740.5/6–1251: Telegram
The United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council ( Spofford) to the Secretary of State 1
Depto 1115. Deputies 46th meeting June 11.
1. Discussion polit conditions USSR revealed such generally similar views as to cause comment on dangers inherent in limited and ingrown sources of info available.2 US and UK placed most emphasis on solidity of regime and belief its control sufficiently absolute to cope with any presently foreseeable contingency including succession to Stalin. Some of smaller countries attached more importance areas of discontent. Fr indicated more interest than [Page 1594] others in seeking some eventual east-west understanding but admitted western strength essential requisite. (Fuller report to Dept and Moscow and Paris).
Deps approved outline discussion of foreign policy (Depto 10963).
[Here follows the report on the Council Deputies discussion of the European Army Conference, Greek-Turkish adherence to NATO, and tripartite discussions regarding German participation in Western defense.]
- Repeated to all the other NATO capitals and to Frankfurt, Heidelberg, and Wiesbaden.↩
- Regarding the decision of the Council Deputies to undertake a discussion of political and economic conditions in the USSR, see footnote 2, Document 776.↩
- Telegram Depto 1096 reported that the Council Deputies discussion of the USSR had been delayed due to the press of other business. A working group had suggested an outline for the foreign policy aspects of the proposed discussion. (740.5/6–851)↩