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

740.5/5–251: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford), at London¹

secret
priority
niact

Washington, May 14, 1951—7 p. m.

Todep 427. ToISA for ECC. Pass to Scott, Cabot, and Halaby. Ref Depto 870, May 2.² This is State–Defense–ECA message reviewing policies recommended by ECC in London Embtel 4708 and para 1 Embtel 4709 both March 1³ and commented on by Todep 303 of March 14.⁴ Fol if agreeable ECC are firm policy statements which shld be disseminated all US field reps at regional mtg for use as appropriate with NAT govts.

1. Relationship Eur production and MDAP End-Item Program

MDAP program of US produced end-items will not, in general, include items that cld reasonably be expected to be produced in Europe, except insofar as considerations of Eur technical performance, delivery schedules, or strategic implications wld indicate exceptions on a case by case basis. In accordance with this principle and the above criteria for its exception US Government will continuously review current and future programs of end-item requests with a view to eliminating those items which can be produced in Europe.

2. Eur responsibility for Production

The US will expect that the European NAT nations will take the necessary initiative to produce each for itself and to procure from each other to their maximum financial capacity consistent with NAT and US burden-sharing conclusions. In accordance with this principle US produced end-items will be within amounts of natl deficiencies related to both the recipient country’s capacity to produce for itself and to procure elsewhere in Europe.

3. NATO or US Studies of MTDP Over-all Costs

Any US or NATO pricing of major matériel for MTDP requirements which involves employment US prices for US types carries no implication whatever that equipment so priced will be obtained under MDAP end-item programs.

4. Relationships US Aid to European Effort

US econ and end-item assistance will be related to totality each country’s efforts including that of raising and maintaining troops, producing and procuring equipment within its econ and financial capabilities. Such effort shld include steps to meet the MTDP gap and to make burden-sharing contributions to others if the defense role of any individual country does not constitute a strain on its econ and financial resources comparable to the gen level of other countries. US assistance will be conditioned by the adequacy and efficiency of the countries actual efforts, and with respect to end-items in accordance military guidance.

Financing additional Eur mil production will be subject early separate cable.

Acheson

1. Drafted by Kranich (RA) and cleared by him with Thorpe (MB), Murray (S/DEF), Locker and Hannay (ECA), and in substance with Bell (S/ISA).
2. This telegram from London, not printed, concerned the need anticipated by Spofford for firm financial policy statements available for consideration at regional economic meetings (740.5/5–251).
3. Ante, pp. 72 and 73.
4. Not printed.