740.5/2–351
Memorandum by the Director for International
Security Affairs (Cabot) to the Secretary of State
1
secret
Washington, February 3,
1951.
Subject: U.S. Position on Canadian Proposal to
Reorganize NATO.
Mr. Spofford has informed me
that you gave your blessing at lunch on Tuesday to the attached
short statement of a U.S. counter-proposal to the Canadian
reorganization plan. He was unable to see Mr. Lovett2 prior to departure, but telephoned
him from New York and also asked me to send Mr. Lovett copy of the document. This,
I did, indicating that I understood you had approved the
proposal.
Mr. Lovett referred the
document to General Burns3 and
Colonel Beebe.4
In the ISAC meeting yesterday,5 General
Burns said he planned to
recommend to Mr. Lovett that
this State proposal, together with the original Canadian proposal,
be referred to the JCS.
This morning, Mr. Lovett
phoned me as indicated by attached memo. I have informed Mr.
Spofford.6
[Enclosure 1]
Suggested Reorganization of
NATO
Top Structure7
The Council is the senior body of the
NATO; its members continue
to represent governments. Other ministers may be invited to
participate as members of national delegations. Once a year,
there shall be a plenary meeting of the NATO attended by all the national representatives
of Cabinet rank (i.e., members of the Council, Defense Committee
and D.F.E.C.).
The Council will be advised by the
Defense Committee and by the Defense Finance and Economic
Committee.
The Defense Committee consists of the
Defense Ministers and shall advise the Council on military
matters, including measures for the implementation of Articles 3
and 5 of the NAT.
[Page 42]
The D.F.E.C. shall advise the Council on
matters of financial and economic policy. Its members shall be
of cabinet rank and each government shall have full discretion
in the selection of its representative.
The Council Deputies discharge the
Council’s responsibilities between Council sessions on a
permanent and continuous basis. When the Council is not in
session, they shall furnish direction to the Military Committee
and Standing Group as to political considerations on which
strategic decisions should be based. The Deputies shall be
responsible for coordinating the activities of and giving
general direction and guidance to all the other permanent organs
of the NATO (Defense Production
Board, Finance Economic Board, Planning Board for Ocean
Shipping). The Deputies shall be assisted by competent advisers
who may be either national representatives on the permanent
NATO bodies or designated
by the interested ministers at the discretion of the individual
governments.
The Military Committee shall consist of
Chiefs of Staff or their representatives and will be responsible
to the Council advised by the Defense Committee. It shall supply
day-to-day guidance to the Deputies concerning military
considerations entering into the formulation of policy. The
Standing Group is the executive organ of the Military Committee.
It consists of the U.S., U.K., and France, and will be in
permanent session and will maintain close liaison with the
Deputies. When the Military Committee is not in session the
Standing Group will supply military guidance to the Deputies and
will receive political guidance from the Deputies on behalf of
the Military Committee.
[Enclosure 2]
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by
Cabot
secret
[Washington,] February 3,
1951.
Mr. Lovett called and
expressed concern that the Spofford suggested reorganization of NATO top structure by
subordinating the Defense Ministers might have unfortunate
repercussions by weakening the Standing Group. He also said he
was not sure that the British Government really supported the
Canadian proposal. He thought perhaps that several of the
Deputies were agreeing in principle only and that the British in
particular had not, as a Government, decided favorably on the
Canadian proposal. I surmise he has gained this impression from
conversation with Marshal Tedder, OSD.
Mr. Lovett said that he
wanted 10 days for the JCS to
consider the Spofford
paper8 and asked me to so advise Mr. Spofford.
