740A.5/9–451: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Ireland 1
27. Ref Embtel 40 Sep 4,2 Embdes 87 Aug 9.3 Aiken’s conversations with MacArthur (Paris Tel 1377 Aug 1 [31], rptd Dublin 1)4 and Huston nearest to overt approach Irish have made to US on arms assistance since their rejection NATO charter membership.
US assessment potential Irish contribution to Western security, so far as Dept aware, remains as expressed NSC 83/1 which is to effect Irish contribution wld be useful if offered through NATO and with no strings attached but not essential under present circumstances.
Question bilateral arrangements with Ireland outside NATO have not been raised since; there are no negots underway or contemplated by Dept which believes recent conjecture on subj largely Irish inspiration.
Emb is correct in stressing limited US resources are heavily committed to priorities established under regional mutual security arrangements.
Emb shld avoid encouraging Irish to believe US wld welcome Irish overtures on arms arrangements outside NATO. Dept believes Ireland’s role in Western security can best be played within NATO and concedes Ireland cld contribute usefully within that framework. As for bilateral arrangements, however, it doesn’t believe benefits to US which might result wld warrant derogation from mutual assistance principles assumed by all NATO signatories in area of which Ireland integral part.
Emb might point out US willingness welcome Ireland as NATO member shld not be weighed lightly against considerations which have deterred Ireland from joining. At time invitation was extended US, like all other NATO members, did not concede relevance of partition to question of Irish membership nor does it now.
FYI Dept inclined think Ireland and UK at Irish initiative conceivably might work out mutually satis exclusion of partition issue from Irish NATO membership if Ireland sincerely interested in [Page 531] membership question other than as instrument of pressure on US and UK.