Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, European Security and the German Question, Volume III, Part 1

740.5 MAP/8–2251: Telegram

The United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford) to the Secretary of State ¹

top secret priority

London, August 22, 1951—8 p. m.

Depto 243. ToISA. Re Todep 112.² Fol are comments each part reftel. ECC joint working staff has collaborated in their formulation.

Part 1. Intend distribute statement presenting part 1 tomorrow (23 Aug) for discussion at next fol mtg. Have discussed figures and other material with Schelling, Mautz, and Rackett who have collaborated in preparing statement. Lindeman will present substance to FEB 22 or 23 Aug. Statement will be essentially paraphrase of part 1 with certain minor changes in tone and presentation designed, from our point of view here, to make statement most effective.

Part 2. Generally agree with indicated guidance in this part. We feel, however, that even with greatest efforts FEB first report will not provoke acceleration expected para 4 (OSR pls comment). Re para 5, agree with emphasis indicated, but we must also not forget gap between present efforts and present DC 28 commitments, i.e., we must aim at achieving full MTDP from present efforts which are below those required even meet DC 28 commitments. Also must take cognizance of increased requirements over SG 20/31³ arising from SHAPE recommendation in “SHAPE 1954 force requirements” sent SG 14 Aug. Re para 9, SG has not transmitted SG 20/31 to deps, FEB, and DPB so far as we know. Immediate authority to put SG 20/31 before these bodies and NATO working group seems essential.

Part 3. Fully agree with actions envisioned for country teams. In order that presentation in each country follow same tone used in deps, and FEB and discussions in DPB, will transmit statement on part 1 as presented to deps to each emb and to other regional agencies, for use in preparation presentation to FonOff. Special guidance to elements of country teams shld be transmitted insofar practicable through appropriate regional offices and checked by them with other regional offices so that we all present common party line at all times at both country and regional levels. Suggest Todep 112, taking into account above comments, be repeated immediately to all emb for country teams basic guidance⁴ and green light for discussions with govts be 27 Aug, when deps will discuss, unless govts take initiative and query embs earlier. In such case matter shld be discussed then.

Spofford

1. Repeated to Paris for Porter and MacArthur and to Heidelberg for Handy.
2. August 17, p. 248.
3. Standing Group document SG 20/31, not printed, was later circulated to the Missions in the other NATO capitals as MRC 5/1. See reference in paragraph 9, p. 252.
4. The message contained in telegram Todep 112, reworded to omit instructions to Spofford and to explain that Part One had been presented to the Council Deputies and the Financial and Economic Board, was transmitted on August 25 to the Missions in the other NATO countries and to Frankfurt and Heidelberg as circular telegram 188, not printed (740.5 MAP/8–2551).