740.5/10–1451: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Bonsai) to the Secretary of State 1
2185. Subject: Eur Defense Forces. Steering Comite EDF conf adopted Oct 10 tentative paper prepared by mil comite on size of active Eur forces to be built up from now to 1954. In introducing 58S paper to Steering Comite, Alphand stressed that determination of final program was task of TCC; mil comite paper represented an assumption required to permit financial and armament comites of conf to pursue their work.
Figures in mil comite paper are only for active ground force units to be ready on D Day; divisional slice estimated at 30,000 men based on new basic units under consideration by conf. Breakdown of forces by national origin follows:
| Country | Units | Men |
| Germany | 12 | 360,000 |
| Belg and Lux | 3 | 90,000 |
| France | 14 | 420,000 |
| Italy | 12 | 360,000 |
| Total | 41 | 1,230,000 |
Netherlands joined conf too recently to permit inclusion of figure, which will presumably be added later.2
- This telegram was repeated for information to London, Frankfurt, Rome, Brussels, The Hague, and Luxembourg.↩
- Telegram 2098, October 9, from Paris, not printed, reported that at the meeting that afternoon of the Steering Committee of the European Defense Community Conference, Chairman Alphand announced the decision of the Netherlands Government to participate as a full member of the Conference. Netherlands representative Van Vredenburch attended the Steering Committee meeting with a full staff and made a brief speech commending the progress made by the Conference and expressing hope for a speedy completion of the tasks of the Conference. (740.5/10–951)↩