Office of the Historian

740.5/7–1851: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State 1

top secret priority
Paris, July 18, 1951—6 p. m.

382. From MacArthur. Distribution as directed by SecState. Fol is text of personal msg from Gen Eisenhower to SecDef and SecState sent today thru US mil channels:

Begin text. Personal for Marshall from Eisenhower pass to SecState personal for Acheson from Eisenhower. Re SHAPE cables Alo 192 dated 6 July ‘51 and Alo 194 dated 7 July ‘51.

1.
After continuing observation of the buildup of the integrated def force for the last six months, and as result of recent discussions with Bruce and McCloy as to the latest developments in the Paris negots, I am convinced that the time has come when we must all press for the earliest possible implementation of the Eur Army concept. Bruce, McCloy, and I are in full agreement that implementation of the Eur army concept despite the many complicated details which will have to be worked out, offers the best and earliest possible chance for a solution to the problem of (a) obtaining the necessary def contribution from West Ger, and (b) enabling the nations of WE to move toward the unity which they must possess if they are to make an adequate and sustained defense effort. I feel strongly that the US must exert constructive and vigorous leadership if a workable solution is to be found.
2.
I have also told Bruce and McCloy of my willingness to do whatever I can to break the present impasse and thereafter to assist as best I can to obtain Eur army units, including a Ger contribution at the earliest possible time. I am convinced that a solution of the problem of Eur def is impossible until we have solved the Ger problem.
3.
I understand from Bruce that the Fr Govt is anxious for SACEUR to send an observer to the Paris Eur army conf but is reluctant to extend an invitation unless it is sure it will be accepted.
4.
Having become convinced that the establishment of an Eur army will be a major constructive step, I now propose to support it in every possible way. Consequently, if you see any major objection to my accepting an invitation to designate an observer to the current Paris Eur army conf, I request that you notify me promptly. My thought is that after receipt of this invitation I wld advise the council deputies through the standing group of the invitation and my acceptance thereof. End text.2

Texts of Alo 192 and 194 contained in Paris Embtels 131 and 132 rptd London 25 and 26, Fkft 14 and 15. [MacArthur.]3

Bruce
  1. This telegram was repeated for information to London for Spofford as 88 and to Frankfurt for McCloy as 36.↩

  2. The telegram quoted here was designated telegram Alo 208, July 18, from General Eisenhower at SHAPE Headquarters in Paris. It was the first item to be discussed at Secretary Acheson’s regular meeting on foreign policy matters with President Truman on July 19. Secretary Acheson’s memorandum of conversation on this item of discussion read as follows:

    “We read together General Eisenhower’s message and the reply which had been agreed upon between General Marshall and me. The President expressed himself as much pleased, both with the message and with the reply, and hoped that the presence of an observer from SHAPE at the Paris Conference and possibly at some time the personal intervention of the General, might speed up the whole development of the matter.” (Lot 53 D 444, memoranda of conversations with the President)

    The “reply” under reference by Secretary Acheson is presumably telegram Def 96731, July 19, to General Eisenhower, p. 842.

    ↩
  3. Telegram 131, July 7, from Paris, is printed on p. 820; telegram 132 of the same date is not printed, but see footnote 4, p. 812.↩