740.5/6–2651: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford), at London1
confidential
Washington, June
26, 1951—6 p. m.
Todep 551. ToISA.
1. FYI President has approved for guidance to witnesses on MSP fol statement respect to US aid to NATO partners in FY 1953 and FY 1954:
- “As you know, together with our allies in NATO, we have drawn up a strategic plan, designed to deter Soviet aggression in Europe and to resist invasion if it shld occur. This plan lists the forces required for this purpose. The NATO countries have undertaken to raise, equip and train a large part of these forces. Additional forces, beyond their present programs, will however be required. A command staff under Gen Eisenhower has been established to supervise preparation for the defense of Western Europe.
- “To complete this plan, so important to U.S. security, will, so far as can now be foreseen, require U.S. appropriation in 1953 and 1954 as large as those requested for the current fiscal year, and maybe larger. Thereafter, when the build-up of North Atlantic Treaty forces will have been substantially completed under the present plan, the amount of aid can be substantially reduced. The maintenance of the necessary European forces shld be largely or wholly financed by the Europeans out of their own resources.
- “These conclusions are based upon an appraisal which our govt has made, on the one hand, of the forces, equipment, facilities and other mil supplies required to meet the Medium Term Defense Plan and, on the other, of the ability of our European allies to meet these requirements without seriously jeopardizing their polit and econ stability and thus opening the way to Communist subversion.
- “This appraisal of requirements and capabilities makes it clear that the task of completing the plan will be a difficult one. It will take the best efforts and ingenuity of all the NATO partners to succeed. Yet there is nothing in the figures to suggest that the plan is beyond our reach. It is an objective vital to our security and to which we have committed ourselves with our allies and accepted the leadership in the person of Gen Eisenhower. We must press forward on all fronts together to overcome the difficulties and create the necessary defenses agreed to.
- “Review of the requirements of the plan and their cost is proceeding in this govt and in NATO, with a view to assuring maximum economy in the use of our resources. Under Gen Eisenhower’s leadership, [Page 211] SHAPE is now engaged in perfecting the plan and the balance of forces involved.
- “At the same time we are seeking the most effective and equitable distribution of costs. The U.S. must now make a greater effort to work out with its partners ways to increase their contribution. This is already going forward both in NATO and directly between this govt and its partners.”
2. This conclusion is based on data contained in ISAC Doc 4–7/a2 which has been pouched to you.
Acheson