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

Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 208

Paper Prepared in the Department of State¹

secret
[PTB D–3]

[Washington ? January, 1954?]

U.S. and U.K. Assurances on NATO and EDC

Proposed Position

Either the French or the British may wish to discuss Bidault’s request at Bermuda² for American and British actions to assist French EDC ratification. It is recommended that we avoid detailed discussion of this subject if it is brought up at Berlin.

Discussion

Both we and the British feel that we should hold back with the announcement of assurances at this time, but should wait until the psychological moment arrives prior to the ratification debate in the French Assembly.

However, it is important to prepare our position so as to be ready to move fast when the time arrives. On the U.S. side, steps are being taken to settle the basic policy questions involved, requiring clearance with Defense and probably Congressional consultation. We will then be in a position to discuss the problem meaningfully with the British and French.

Below is a summary of the principal points raised by Bidault at Bermuda, followed by a brief comment on what we might do to meet each one:

1. Steps to create a more closely integrated NATO and to strengthen EDC–NATO relationships. The French were not specific as to what they wanted under this heading. Apparently any steps taken, either in military or non-military fields, to provide for closer NATO integration can be used to help satisfy this requirement.

2. Assurances that the U.S. and U.K. will not withdraw from NATO after 20 years. This question requires a basic policy decision and Congressional consultation.

3. Maintenance of an “equilibrium” between U.S.–U.K. forces and NATO forces through special tripartite consultation and agreement. We cannot commit ourselves to maintain any specific ratio of NATO forces or to be bound by any special tripartite commitments on the subject. However, we might be able to meet the French on the consultation point. The British have already agreed to special U.K.–EDC consultations on level of forces in connection with British association.

4. Assurance that France will continue in its “Great Power” role, specifically in the NATO Standing Group. There should be little difficulty in giving the French general assurance that her Great Power role will continue because of her global responsibilities, and that tripartite consultations on matters of mutual concern will continue. However, will probably want to avoid any specific commitments with respect to the Standing Group membership.

1. No date or drafting officer is given on the source text, which was prepared as a position paper for “Tripartite or Bilateral Discussions in Berlin” and bears the designation PTB D–3. Documentation on the Berlin Conference is presented in volume vii . While at Berlin, Secretary Dulles and French Foreign Minister Bidault discussed the EDC and the matter of U.S. and U.K. assurances at a meeting on Feb. 17. For a memorandum of their conversation, see p. 875.
2. For documentation on the Bermuda Conference, see pp. 1710 ff.