740.5/3–554: Telegram
The United States Observer to the Interim Committee of the European Defense Community (Bruce) to the Department of State
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Coled 170. Alphand last evening said it appeared he would have to accept that United States would not “negotiate” or “consult” on contents of Presidential statement. He asked, however, on behalf of Bidault that we send following draft statement to Washington as a suggestion of what Bidault believed would be helpful to him with understanding that Department would accept or reject ideas expressed in statement as it found necessary in its conversations with Departments and Congress. Alphand said Bidault believes what is said is important and also how it is said. Therefore he wished to be certain that the Secretary knew what he believed would be helpful to him. In order to have maximum support from Bidault when statement is made we believe that the Department should draw on Bidault’s actual language to maximum, wherever it is possible to accept substance of his suggestions. [Page 891] Further comments from Achilles, Hughes and myself in immediately following telegram.
Begin text: Proposed American declaration.
1. The Government of the United States considers the North Atlantic Treaty to be a fundamental and permanent element of its foreign policy and of the security of the United States.
In accordance with the unanimous conclusions of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Government of the United States considers that the treaty is of indefinite duration and will remain permanently in effect.
The provisions of Article 13 whereby any state may withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty after a period of twenty years constitutes only an option that is open to the various member states. For its part, the Government of the United States does not intend to avail itself of this option and reiterates its intention to ensure that the treaty shall remain in force indefinitely.
2. The Government of the United States emphasizes that the establishment of the EDC, an integral part of the constant developing Atlantic Community, will lead to the strengthening of the existing ties among the member states of the Atlantic organization as well as the ties between the two communities. It will ensure the most favorable conditions for intimate and lasting cooperation on the continent of Europe between American and British forces and forces of the EDC. It will facilitate implementation of the present concept of forward strategy for the defense of Europe.
3. In carrying out this essential policy of constant support of NATO and in keeping with the principles set forth above, the United States Government states that it attaches the greatest importance to the mutual consultations which, in accordance with established procedures, it intends to pursue with the signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty on the size and the nature of the forces indispensable for the common defense of the territories of the member states, and on the level as well as the composition of the forces that each state is to place at the disposal of the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe in order to meet the defense requirements of the European continent. These consultations should lead to decisions reached in common, which, taking into account the views of the Supreme Commander, will determine annually the level of forces required on the European continent to ensure the success of the “forward strategy”. These decisions should take into account the individual capacity of each nation and permit a balanced distribution of the forces of the EDC and those of the states not members of the Community.
To achieve the purposes determined in the course of these consultations, the Government of the United States will continue to place all necessary forces at the disposal of the Supreme Allied Commander on the European continent in cooperation with the signatory states of the Atlantic Treaty and those of the EDC.
4. The Government of the United States recalls that while retaining the right to proceed, in consultation with the Supreme Commander, with the exchange of units and formations stationed on the European continent and placed at the disposal of the Supreme Commander, it [Page 892] may do so only provided that the size, the composition and the value of its contribution to the total forces at the immediate disposal of the Supreme Commander remain fundamentally unchanged. End text.1
- In telegram Coled 172 sent priority from Paris, Mar. 5, Bruce stated: “We appear to have definitely eliminated hope on part French officials that US will ‘negotiate’ with them on the US assurances. It has been a fight that has left some scars. Particularly call your attention to Coled 170 suggesting that if and as far as practicable we now use language suggested by Bidault in our final declaration this subject. Such action on our part would not merely be graceful gesture but should be helpful when parliamentary debate occurs. Believe this point has great importance. If you could possibly do it, would be great assistance if you discussed this with General Gruenther on his return to Washington tomorrow” (740.5/3–554).↩