740.5/10–2351: Telegram
The United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford) to the Secretary of State 1
Depto 496. In CD yesterday Alphand summarized progress and remaining ques Ger EDF conf. He pointed up problem of EDF link with NATO and considered it especially delicate since “Ger not NATO member”. He hoped Paris conf wld be able to submit draft treaty to NAC at Rome2 although some details wld probably still be unsolved. Port suggested that main point of Rome mtg is ques of Ger and that mtg might well be postponed until final Paris report available. US dep argued strongly that experience had demonstrated disadvantages of trying to wait until all problems ripe for final decision, that Rome mtg might facilitate final decision on Ger and Nov 24 date shld be maintained. UK grumbled and said TCC report wld also be available if mtg postponed to mid December but did not at this mtg press postponement.
Neth dep was worried about tripartite negots with Ger which might affect NATO. Alphand assured him no decision affecting NATO wld be made without NATO discussions and said that Bonn discussions included ques of guarantees beyond NATO Art 6 demanded from occ powers by Ger and Ger reciprocal obligations. Belg asked if was imposing conditions on participation in west def. Neth and Italy requested occ powers report on contractual arrangements negots which Fr and US believe cld be made. Fr argued that Rome agenda item [Page 898] shld be “report of Paris conf on Ger participation in west def”. Fr stated and US agreed that occ powers report called for in Brussels decision was given at Ottawa and that principal basis of Rome discussions wld be EDF report. US with support of Neth and Can obtained agreement to retain broader title of “Ger participation in West def”.
Chairman said that if Ger participation is to be treated fruitfully at Rome, deps must soon begin to pull together from NATO point of view loose ends involved in present multiplicity of discussions on Ger and particularly to consider ques of EDC link with NATO. Neth commented timing tricky because nec to avoid present NATO with take it-or-leave-it proposal but also to permit present negots to solve as many problems as possible.
Chairman read para 15of C–6–D/1,3 particularly 15(3) in which NAC requested CD to consider recommendations of Paris conf from point of view of NATO requirements.
CD accepted Chairman’s statements deps wld be kept as fully and currently advised as possible of all developments on Ger of concern to NATO that subj wld be kept currently on CD agenda and specific problems dealt with as soon as possible, and that necessity time wise might have to be criterion rather than readiness any specific topic.