740.5/11–151: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Acting Secretary of State 1
2585. Subject: European Defense Forces. Re Embtel 2489 rptd London 631, Frankfort 314.2 French authorities, particularly defense authorities, have been in disagreement with acceptance by EDF conf of 18 groupements for proposed German contribution to EDF. Their position is that French delegation exceeded its instructions in agreeing to number of groupements greater than that proposed by Germans in Petersberg report and in Paris conference. French position arises in part because French authorities, in face of serious balance of payments crisis and increasing demands for Indochina, are convinced that size of their own defense program in Europe will have to be reduced even more than reduction that was inevitable when previous requests of French Defense Minister were confronted by French financial capabilities in TCC analysis.
After advance notification to SHAPE that French could not proceed unless figures for German contribution were reduced, Alphand [Page 909] made following statement to Steering Committee EDF Conference Oct 31; he had recd, he said indication from TCC on cost of German contribution, based on the 12 groupement and the 18 groupement figures. TCC estimated 12 groupements plus corresponding Naval and Air Forces would cost around 11 billion dollars, and 18 groupements, with naval and air support, around 16 billion dollars. In light these facts, he believed that conference would have to take a more realistic view of what was possible; otherwise, in projecting planning from now until 1954, total cost of German contribution would be so great as to create discouragement re possibility of building European forces at all.
Alphand therefore proposed that conference agree, both for its own and for TCC planning purposes, to return to original figure of 12 groupements for initial German contribution to be built between now and 1954, a figure which was within capabilities of European community. He asked Steering Comite to agree to this proposal.
In reply, Blank recalled that 12 groupement figure had been proposed by Germans, both at Petersberg and in Military Committee of Paris conf. He was of firm opinion that as a matter of principle all member countries should make maximum effort and maximum contribution within their means. But in his opinion, it would not be possible to build more than 12 groupements of German origin during period from now until 1954, if only because necessary manpower in classes of military age would not be available. He agreed that conference must take realistic view and therefore approved Alphand’s proposal.
Alphand replied that he entirely agreed that every member country should make maximum effort and added that if European community could build more forces than provided under present conference plans, it would do so. But he feared that if, taking into account political, financial and social situation in member countries, they tried to do too much, result might only be to disappoint all concerned, and particularly their American friends whose help was so essential for the defense of Europe.
In reply to Alphand’s request for comment, SHAPE observer stated that SHAPE was fully aware of the problem which Alphand had raised. SHAPE could not modify its estimate or military requirements, which was based upon overall strategy and upon SHAPE estimate of what was needed to support that strategy. However, SHAPE would have to accept conference’s decision as to financial capabilities of member states.
As other delegations raised no objection, Steering Committee decision was referred to Military Committee with instructions to modify agreed phasing plan accordingly. Conference decision and this modified plan will be reported by Alphand to TCC without delay.