PPS files, lot 65 D 101, “Europe”
Memorandum by the Presidential Staff Secretary (Goodpaster) to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense (Wilson), and the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (Radford)
top secret
Washington, November 4,
1954.
- 1.
- The President has indicated his approval of the broad line of action indicated in the memorandum on “Recommended U.S. Position [Page 534] on NATO Nuclear Strategy”1 presented to him jointly by the Secretaries of State and Defense at the meeting at 12:30 on 3 November 1954.2 He has also indicated broad agreement with the concept and major points of the proposed Military Committee Report relating to the “new approach” as outlined by General Collins at that meeting.
- 2.
- During the meeting of November 3, the President indicated his readiness to consult with Congressional leaders on this matter at an early date, and indicated further that he will expect specific recommendations as to such consultation to be made to him by the Department of State in consultation with Defense.
- 3.
- With respect to concern expressed by Admiral Radford lest the impression be gained erroneously that the U.S. might assume the entire effort required to bring forces into position to accomplish the new concept, the President has indicated that he interprets the statements relating to U.S. support, through military assistance, of “agreed NATO plans to accomplish the new concept” to refer instead to a reorienting of present and future U.S. military assistance in such manner as to assure that this assistance is geared into and contributes toward the development of forces prepared for integrated action generally as called for in these studies.
A. J. Goodpaster
Colonel, CE, US Army
Staff Secretary
Colonel, CE, US Army
Staff Secretary