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

740.5/3–654: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France ¹

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Washington, March 6, 1954—7:08 p.m.

3067. Paris for Dillon and Bruce. Verbatim text.²

As the time approaches for historic decision on the remaining measures required to put into effect the European Defense Community Treaty, it is appropriate for me to state clearly the United States position on the relation between the European Army and the European Community on the one hand, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the broader Atlantic Community on the other hand. The essential elements of this position, which have been discussed with leaders of both political parties in the Congress, may be simply stated.

The United States is firmly committed to the North Atlantic Treaty. This Treaty is in accordance with the basic security interests of the United States and will steadfastly serve these interests regardless of the fluctuations in the international situation or our relations with any country. The obligations which the United States has assumed under the Treaty will be honored.

The North Atlantic Treaty has a significance which transcends the mutual obligations assumed. It has engendered an active practical working relationship among the Atlantic nations. Through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the United States and its allies are working to build the concrete strength needed to deter aggression and, if aggression occurs, to halt it without the devastation or occupation of any NATO country. These nations are also seeking to make the Atlantic alliance an enduring association of free peoples, within which all members can concert their efforts toward peace, prosperity, and freedom.

The European Defense Community will form an integral part of the Atlantic Community and, within this framework, will ensure intimate and durable cooperation between the United States forces and the forces of the European Defense Community on the continent of Europe. I am convinced that the coming into force of the European Defense Community Treaty will permit the scars left by the age-old conflicts of Europe to be transformed into the new and vital tissue of an ever-developing community of nations and will provide a realistic basis for consolidating Western defenses.

The United States is confident that, with these principles in mind, the Western European nations concerned will proceed promptly further to develop the European Community through ratification of the European Defense Community Treaty. When that Treaty comes into force the United States will conform its actions to the following policies and undertakings:

(1) The United States will continue to maintain in Europe, including Germany, such units of our armed forces as may be necessary and appropriate to contribute our fair share of the forces needed for the joint defense of the North Atlantic area, and will continue to deploy such forces in accordance with agreed North Atlantic strategy for the defense in this area.

(2) The United States will encourage the closest possible integration between the European Defense Community forces on the one hand, and United States and other North Atlantic Treaty forces on the other, in accordance with approved plans with respect to their command, training, tactical support, and logistical organization developed by the military agencies and the Supreme Commanders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

(3) The United States will continue to seek means of extending to the Atlantic Community increased security by sharing in greater measure the fruits of its science and industry with respect to new weapons and techniques for the improvement of the collective defense.

(4) The United States will consult fully with its fellow signatories to the North Atlantic Treaty and with the Commissariat of the European Defense Community on questions of mutual concern, including the levels of the respective armed forces of the European Defense Community, the United States and other North Atlantic Treaty countries to be placed at the disposal of the Supreme Commander in Europe.

(5) In consonance with its policy of full and continuing support for the maintenance of the integrity and unity of the European Defense Community, the United States will regard any action from whatever quarter which threatens that integrity or unity as a threat to the security of the United States, and in such event will act in accordance with Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

(6) In accordance with the basic and enduring interest of the United States in the North Atlantic Treaty, as reflected in the desire of the United States Senate, expressed at the time of ratification, that the Treaty be of indefinite duration rather than of short fixed duration, the United States will consider sympathetically any specific proposals which may be made in the North Atlantic Council for extending the provision regarding the right of withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty beyond the present period of twenty years. The United States calls attention to the fact that withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would require a specific step by the United States Government which is unthinkable given a solid core of unity on the Continent of Europe such as would be provided by the European Defense Community.³

Smith

1. Drafted by Moore, cleared by Trulock, and initialed for the Acting Secretary by Bonbright; repeated to Caracas, London, and Bonn.

2. A draft “Proposed Presidential Statement on EDC Assurances”, bearing the date Mar. 2, 1954, was submitted as an enclosure to an undated, unsigned memorandum for the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council which stated that the proposed statement was being submitted to the NSC for approval and that it had been prepared by the Departments of State and Defense in response to action taken at the National Security Council meeting of Feb. 26. (See footnote 2, p. 877.) The draft proposed statement was identical to that included in the source text.

   For a memorandum of the discussion of the draft at the 187th meeting of the National Security Council, see p. 886. On Mar. 5 in a memorandum for the President, Acting Secretary Smith wrote that “Pursuant to your decision in the National Security Council yesterday, the Secretary of Defense and I have given further thought to the form of the assurances to be given the French in connection with the European Defense Community problem. It is our considered view that the text of the statement which we went over yesterday and which is attached hereto [Proposed Presidential Statement on EDC Assurances of Mar. 2], is the best that can be devised having in mind our own national interests and our aim of going as far as possible in assisting the French Government to obtain prompt ratification of the EDC Treaty. This draft has the concurrence of Secretary Dulles. I recommend that you approve the attached sheet.” A handwritten notation on the memorandum indicates that it was hand carried to the White House on Mar. 5. Smith’s memorandum, containing as enclosures all the documents summarized above with the exception of the Mar. 4 NSC meeting is in file 740.5/3–554.

3. In telegram 3066 to Paris, Mar. 6, Smith reported that the President had approved the text on U.S. assurances on the EDC contained in the source text. Smith regretted “that process of interagency consideration and approval here” developed in a way which made it impossible to take into account the language suggested in telegram Coled 170, Mar. 5, p. 890. Smith added that the text met in part all major points raised by the French “and in our judgement provides maximum assurances which is possible for us.” Consultations with Congressional leaders were scheduled to take place on Mar. 8, Smith continued, and if these consultations were successful, the Department of State hoped to be able to authorize the Embassy in France to transmit the text in strict confidence to Bidault on Mar. 9. (740.5/3–554).

   In telegram 4579 to London, Mar. 6, Smith reported that the British Embassy had that day been given the text of the U.S. assurances contained in the source text. “We emphasized that text represented firm U.S. Government position subject only to result of Congressional consultation Monday. We stressed also importance of not permitting any leak. British Embassy reaction favorable” (740.5/3–654).