Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 1

740.5/10–1052: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France ¹

top secret
priority

Washington, October 14, 1952—4:19 p.m.

Topol 243. Ref Poltos 395, Oct 2 and 439, Oct 10.² Gen feeling here that Merchant’s excellent presentation at informal NAC mtg Oct 1 adequately covers points raised in Alphand paper for purposes of current discussion. We are consequently not inclined to encourage further discussion of paper by an additional statement of US views. No objection of course to your stating that views expressed by Merchant Oct 1 have US Govt concurrence.

Dept will appreciate being kept informed developments this discussion especially re question of global strategy. If discussion this question shld be renewed SRE might take opportunity remind dels that NATO not a global planning org; that while it is agreed NATO shld be generally informed of developments in other parts of world of special interest to NATO all NATO countries shld exercise care to avoid (1) creating impression in ME and FE that NATO is planning strategy for areas not in NATO and (2) lending substance to propaganda alleging that NATO is “white imperialist bloc” or is encroaching upon or creating conflicts with UN.

FYI re summary observation 5 (a) of Alphand paper Dept wonders whether suggestion that Atlantic Community in course of AR “examine through a critical scrutiny the mil budgets of member states etc” is not inconsistent with Fr attitude as reported in Emb tel 2153 Oct 8,³ especially statement to effect that composition and size Fr mil budget is matter for Fr determination alone. In view present delicate status relations with Fr we see no special advantage to be gained by pointed reference this apparent inconsistency at this stage.⁴

Bruce

1. This telegram was drafted by Adair, cleared by Knight (WE), Bonbright, the Department of Defense, and the Office of the Director of Mutual Security, and initialed for the Acting Secretary of State by Perkins.
2. Polto 395, supra; Polto 439, not printed, asked for any additional views on Alphand’s paper in time for its informal discussion on Oct. 16 by the North Atlantic Council. (740.5/10–1052)
3. Not printed.
4. At the end of this telegram the following sentence had been deleted before transmission: “If in course normal NAC business, however, opportunity shld arise where reference wld appear useful Dept wld have no objection SRE expressing appropriate observation thereto.”