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

Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 102: Telegram

The Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Nash) to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Foster)

top secret
priority

Lisbon, February 23, 1952—11:30 p.m.

LibDef 14. Noforn. US Del met with France 1030 in effort to arrive at agreement on 1952 French force levels. Basis for agreement was secured but not authenticated in time for scheduled 1130 meeting of Def Mins. Agreement with France will be reported separately.¹ Def Mins confined their action to finalizing agreement on MC 39.² Para 18 was approved in full and remainder of report noted with fol as agreed final version Para 18:

“A. Approve the force targets of the TCC report as firm goals for 52, as provisional goals for 53, and for 54 as goals for planning purposes for guiding the early actions required to make possible the achievement of these targets, subject to the recognition of the fol:

• “1. That the Council accepts from the MilCom Part 1 of MC 26/1,² revised as necessary by developments, as the official judgment and recommendations of the mil advisers of the Council as to the militarily desirable goals for planning purposes beyond 54.
• “2. That ‘firm goals’ may be subject to minor adjustments for military reasons, as recommended by the Supreme Commanders.
• “3. That the Council recognize the existence of the risks involved until the requirements are achieved.
• “4. That the MilCom keep under continuing review the ‘provisional goals’ and ‘goals for planning purposes’, to the end that the most effective force buildup within economic ceilings and political limitations can be achieved.
• “5. That the importance be stressed of each country taking every opportunity to increase and accelerate the buildup and readiness of forces, particularly to enable a more rapid buildup in the battle area after D Day (Encl 3).”

Following MilCom meeting there was meeting of Special Comte on Infra. This meeting was generally inconclusive. Infra Comte reconvened at 1430. At this meeting some prog made toward reaching agreement on funds required for 52 but no final agreement is yet in sight. Infra prob being reported separately.³

Def Mins convened at 1500 at which time French Del had just given agreement to firm 52 force levels of 12⅓ div, 478 acft in units, no new Naval construction during 52. Def Mins approved resolution reported to you in LibDef 12.⁴ Force levels agreed to by each country are summarized as fol on all 12 nations including US.

a. Army—M Day 25, M plus 3 days 30⅓, M plus 15 days 39, M plus 30 days 50⅔ (includes total of 12⅓ French Divs), M plus 90 days 52⅔.

b. Naval Forces—No significant changes from TCC report.

c. Air Forces—In front line aircraft Belg 409, Canada 96, Den 131, France 478, Italy 275, Neth 207, Norway 135, Port 100, UK 1516, US 695, total 4042.⁵

[Here follow a summary of the course of the fourth meeting of the North Atlantic Council (mentioned in the meeting in the afternoon of February 23 of the Special Committee on Infrastructure) and a schedule of meetings for February 24 and February 25.]

1. For a report on the tentative general agreement referred to here, see telegram Secto 62, Feb. 24, from Lisbon, p. 272.
2. This Military Committee document not available for inclusion in this volume.
2. This Military Committee document not available for inclusion in this volume.
3. Regarding the meetings of the Special Committee on Infrastructure, see telegram Secto 53, Feb. 23, from Lisbon, p. 192.
4. Dated Feb. 22, p. 135.
5. According to the official NATO verbatim record of the fourth meeting of the North Atlantic Council on the afternoon of Feb. 23 (C9–VR/4), these air force targets were corrected by changing the figure for Italy from 275 to 300 and by changing the total figure from 4042 to 4067. For the American account of the Council meeting, see telegram Secto 59, Feb. 23, p. 150.