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

740.5/9–351: Telegram

The Chargé in France (Bonsal) to the Secretary of State ¹

secret

Paris, September 3, 1951—8 p. m.

1420. Subject is European Defense Force. Steering comite EDF conference met this afternoon. Present were Fr, Ger, Belg and Luxembourg dels and an Ital rep.

Alphand opened mtg with statement that Fr Govt considered EDF best road to effective defense and had instructed Fr del to continue work on basis of interim report.² Govt had approved inclusion all European forces assigned to NATO in EDF from beginning and has agreed that size and composition of basic unit shld be settled as military question in cooperation with SHAPE. In defining forces Fr Govt expected that conference wld take account of problems created by need to rotate forces in Indochina.

Ger, Belg and Lux dels also stated respective govts had instructed them to proceed on basis interim report. Belgs however reserved position on forces to be included in EDF from beginning, took position that EDF shld include “forces placed at disposal community be member states.”

Ital rep said his govt wld not be ready with definitive decision and instrs till Sept 10; also had problem of naming new head of del to replace Taviani. Position to be considered by Ital Cabinet Sept 4. Ital Govt “faithful to basic conception of ED community,” and presence of rep at today’s mtg demonstrated Ital desire continue work at conference “in spirit wholehearted participation”.

Alphand then stressed that in view Rome mtg end Oct,³ conf shld have plan for political, military, and economic aspects of EDF as well worked out as possible at that time. To this end, he proposed program of work for conference comites during coming month. Dels went over this program today and will meet tomorrow to discuss directives to be given to comites.

Translation proposed program of work fols:

a. Military comite.

1. Size and composition of basic units, taking account of SHAPE recommendations.

2. Application of principle of integration in higher echelons, services and tactical support units, and agencies and organizations of community, taking account of SHAPE recommendations.

3. Organization of community, particularly of commissioners’ services. This study to be undertaken in conjunction with other technical comites (especially financial) as concerns financial and supply problems.

4. Total size and composition European services on basis SHAPE recommendations (in particular number of units, effectives, armament and cost) and time-phased program for creation these forces.

5. Decisions concerning functions of commissioner during transitional period: Functions assumed immed by commissioner; functions temporarily delegated by commissioner to appropriate services in each country; functions remaining natl; role of SHAPE during transitional period. This study to be carried out with assistance financial comite concerning problems within its competence.

To carry out these tasks military comite will have support of integrated planning group constituting nucleus European general staff, to which each delegation requested delegate qualified reps. This group will have special offices provided by Fr Govt.

b. Juridical comite.

1. Keeping draft treaty up to date on basis progress realized by other technical comites.

2. Preparation of annexed agreement concerning status of EDF.

c. Financial comite.

1. Evaluation of cost of formation of European forces and of annual appropriations for first budget (in cooperation with military comite).

2. Distribution of burden among participating countries.

3. Budgetary and financial system during transitional period: Functions immed assumed by European defense community; functions delegated by community to appropriate services in each country; services remaining natl (in cooperation with military comite).

4. Financial regulations.

d. Further task to be assigned to a new comite: Everything concerning establishment of armament and equipment program and its execution by community, as well as role to be assigned during transitional period to existing services which will carry out these functions.

Bonsal

1. This telegram was repeated for information to London, Rome, Brussels, Frankfurt, The Hague, and Luxembourg.
2. For extracts from the Interim Report of the Conference for the Organization of a European Defense Community, July 24, seep. 843.
3. The reference here is to the meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Council, eventually held in Rome, November 24–28; for documentation on that session, see pp. 693 ff.