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

740.5/3–751

The Deputy Secretary of Defense (Lovett) to the Secretary of State

secret

Washington, March 7, 1951.

Dear Mr. Secretary: This letter will confirm our verbal agreements reached on 5 March 1951,¹ as to the United States position on the proposed reorganization of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is understood that my letter of 24 February 1951,² should therefore be modified as follows:

In Solution “B,” paragraph “a” should be deleted and the following revised paragraph inserted:

“Reorganize the Council by the incorporation therein of the Defense Committee, but without titular change. The North Atlantic Council will represent the respective Governments of the member states. It shall incorporate not only the Council envisaged by Article 9 of the Treaty but also the Defense Committee referred to in the same Article. The Council shall be composed of members of Ministerial rank, although in exceptional circumstances member Governments may be represented by other persons duly designated for the purpose. Heads of Governments may attend meetings of the Council in person. Otherwise, Governments shall be represented by their Minister of Foreign Affairs and/or their Minister of Defense or by other competent Ministers according to the nature of the agenda.”

In Solution “B,” paragraph “b” should be amended by:

a. Adding to the first sentence the phrase: “and other competent Ministers as appropriate.”

b. Deleting the phrase “Council of Ministers” where it appears and substituting the word “Council.”

The intent of the above change to paragraph “a” is that the Council shall be composed basically of Foreign Ministers and Defense Ministers. When the nature of the agenda requires the presence of Ministers other than Foreign Affairs and Defense, such Ministers shall enter the discussions of the Council and participate in its decisions. Under these conditions the United States could be represented at the Council by the Secretary of State alone, or the Secretary of Defense alone, or any competent Minister alone when dictated by the agenda, or by any combination thereof. In selecting the membership of the Council for its meetings the wording now before the Council Deputies might well be accepted, which is:

“Member Governments will decide, in the light of their own constitutional and domestic requirements and of the agenda fixed in advance by which Minister or Ministers they shall be represented.”

The intent of paragraph “b” is that the Deputy United States Representative, North Atlantic Council, shall, in addition to the Secretary of State, advise and assist the Secretary of Defense according to his responsibilities under Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty and other Ministers according to the agenda. I suggest that Ambassador Spofford’s terms of reference, as approved by the President on 16 December 1950,³ should be reviewed and a joint recommendation between our Departments be made to the Bureau of the Budget for revision in light of these understandings.

With reference to Solution “B,” paragraph “c,” it was further agreed that in the event all or part of OEEC does not move to London the Department of Defense would not object to the location in Paris of the contemplated Financial and Economic Board. The Department of Defense position regarding other major NATO bodies remains that they should not be transferred from Washington or London to Paris.

Regarding the military structure of NATO, it is my understanding you are in agreement that at this time no changes should be made in that structure, as previously stated in paragraph “d” of Solution “B.” I therefore urge that this, point be made explicit in presenting our views on the Canadian proposal to the Council Deputies.

A major consideration in adhering to the present military structure is to insure direct relations between the Council Deputies and the Standing Group. This is particularly important if the Council is to be reorganized to incorporate the Defense Committee. Under no circumstance should the United States accept any proposal to place the Military Representatives Committee in any way between the Standing Group and the Council Deputies. To insure this point the United States should present to the Council Deputies a proposed amendment to the Council Deputies terms of reference⁴ recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which I enclose.

Sincerely yours,

Robert A. Lovett

Appendix

Terms of Reference for Council Deputies as Proposed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Council Deputies shall represent all Ministers concerned with North Atlantic Treaty matters between Council sessions on a permanent and continuous basis. When the Council is not in session, the Council Deputies shall carry out the policies of the Council, formulate issues requiring decisions by the Council or by member Governments, and otherwise constitute a body which may register the approval of their Governments as obtained on matters before them for consideration. The Council Deputies shall deal directly with the Standing Group (Military Committee as presently constituted when that body is in session) on political matters having military implications and shall provide the Standing Group (Military Committee as presently constituted when that body is in session) with the political guidance upon which strategic decisions should be based. The Standing Group shall maintain close liaison with the Council Deputies and provide that body advice on military matters. The Deputies shall be responsible for coordinating the activities of and giving guidance to all the other permanent organs of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Each Deputy shall be assisted by such advisers as are deemed necessary by his Government.

1. No record of this conversation has been found in the Department of State files.
2. Printed in telegram Todep 272 to London, February 26, p. 65.
3. See footnote 5, p. 19.
4. See the North Atlantic Council Resolution on Central Machinery, released to the press May 19, 1950, printed in the Department of State Bulletin, May 29, 1950, p. 831.