Office of the Historian

740.5/9–3054: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, at London1

top secret
priority
Washington, September 30, 1954—9:32 a.m.

Tedul 11. Eyes only the Secretary. Although we appreciate how pressed you are at this time, we feel obliged to raise with you further action on NATO new approach studies. General Collins promised the North Atlantic Council to distribute a draft report of the Military Committee to the Military Representatives Committee October 1, stating that US Joint Chiefs of Staff would reserve their final comments until the German question was clarified.

Although draft report will therefore not express final US views, we consider that the impact of this initial paper in the other NATO capitals will be so important that it is highly desirable that the draft circulated be so worded as not to amplify the many serious problems which will nevertheless be inherently raised. We have discussed matter with Admiral Davis and General Collins, pointing out desirability of getting your personal views on this matter. It will place General Collins in extremely embarrassing position, and would vitiate effect of statement which he made to North Atlantic Council if distribution of paper were to be delayed beyond Monday October 4 at latest, and as paper has to be negotiated with British and French in Standing Group prior to distribution, we would appreciate your urgent views by telegraph.

. . . . . . .

We believe foregoing changes make paper acceptable for its purposes as an initial draft, inasmuch as they allow North Atlantic Council maximum flexibility and choice of action to be taken on paper and therefore recommend you cable approval.2

Smith

  1. Signed by Smith; drafted by Wolf, who also drafted on Sept. 28 an explanatory memorandum from Elbrick to Acting Secretary Smith with a draft copy of the source text enclosed stating in part: “On the assumption that certain amendments agreed with Defense are incorporated in the paper [draft Military Committee Report], we believe that the paper will give as much flexibility as is possible in handling action on the paper in the North Atlantic Council.

    “As General Collins will be placed in a very embarrassing position if the distribution of the paper were to be delayed beyond October 4, and as we believe it desirable to have the Secretary’s views on this very important step, the attached telegram requests the Secretary to cable his approval”. (740.5/9–2854) The Wolf memorandum also noted that the source text had received the concurrence of Deputy Under Secretary Murphy. Dulles was in London to attend the Nine-Power Conference, Sept. 28–Oct. 3; for documentation, see pp. 1294 ff.

    ↩
  2. Dulles replied from London in telegram Dulte 14, Oct. 1: “Hensel and I concur proceeding circulate SG 241/3 as revised by JCS Memo dated 24 September and by suggestions in ref tel. Believe deletion clause in paragraph 4 preferable to suggested addition” (740.5/10–154). The revisions of SG 241/3 were also communicated in a letter of Oct. 16 from Elbrick to Hensel.↩