740.5/9–1954: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State 1
1175. Department pass Defense. Department for Secretary. Noforn. From Reinhardt. Following message from General Gruenther:
“I met Mendes-France at Marly for one hour Saturday night, with Parodi present. He stated Eden had informed him Thursday of some of my ideas on controls and he desired develop this subject further. He continued: ‘As you may know our approach to subject of German rearmament is somewhat different from our British friends.’ He explained that when EDC presented to French public, German admission to NATO was pictured as undesirable solution. French Parliament still considers NATO unacceptable and will be difficult task convert them. That is why so necessary to build up Brussels treaty aspect and stress it constantly in presentation to French.
“He said Brussels organization must have certain important functions but essential there be no duplication in military field. How could SHAPE assist?
“I told him of logistic controls we could execute and explained with chart our possible contribution with respect to pipeline operation. I also showed how we could assist in control of supplies. Mendes said all this important and helpful but that it was in purely military operational role. Problem is mainly political one. He wanted agency to control armament manufacture and conduct inspections to insure that military equipment not being manufactured or stored illegally. He wants NATO Commander to report to Brussels organization in performing this mission. He said French still distrustful of Germans and must be assured that unauthorized German build-up cannot take place.
[Page 1229]“I told Mendes that I felt we could give no assistance in control of armament production. We might be able help in conducting inspections for material in hands troops if that necessary, but we would be reluctant see such assignment given us. I added it was not clear to me how NATO headquarters would operate under Brussels for tasks such as those he had in mind. However, I said we would study proposal at once.
“I told him I felt he was overstressing inspection aspect; that I considered if Brussels organization was to have satisfactory future, positive aspects had to be emphasized rather than making role one of merely preventing members from violating certain restrictions. He replied he visualized Brussels would also handle common procurement for seven member countries for all military supplies on continent. In reply my query whether British expected conform strictly to this procedure in view Commonwealth relations, he said probably some exception would have to be worked out for British. He said, Brussels would also determine maximum force contributions, while NATO would deal with minimum figures. In addition it might be possible to work out a few supranational functions for Brussels organization.
“I inquired whether or not staff work had been done on French proposal and received reply which convinced me that problem not yet thought through. Mendes expects nine-power conference give instructions to working group of experts on conclusion of meeting starting 28 September. He wants working group to report in 30 days with NAC meeting late October or early November to approve. In that event French Parliament will approve prior to Christmas.
“I came away from meeting with impression that Mendes is obsessed with political difficulties he faces in getting German rearmament through Parliament. He considers his most convincing argument will be control and safeguard aspects and that is why he lays such emphasis on British participation in Brussels pact with expanded functions. He will agree somewhat reluctantly to simultaneous admission of Germany to NATO but his heart is not in it. Thursday, De Margerie told me Brussels pact concept is for ‘window dressing’, but I did not get that impression from Mendes, because he appears deadly serious about Brussels role. Once he said, ‘NATO will be superior organization but it will not exercise all functions. Some must be handled by Brussels organization.’ But his ideas on this division were extremely vague.
“It is almost impertinence for me to suggest that preparatory work for nine-powder conference be thorough, because no doubt that already in hand. I am nevertheless apprehensive that meeting may convene without thorough understanding of French proposal. Such development could result in disagreement or at least very fuzzy directive to working group. Twice Mendes said, ‘I can get this through French Parliament if our partners will listen to me this time as to kind of proposal which should be adopted. I don’t insist that others have to bow to French opinion but it must be carefully considered’.
“Mendes was in good frame of mind but evident he is very, very tired. He does not expect any rest during next three months. I told him I consider he has too many jobs. He agreed and said he would like get rid of one of them, but he didn’t specify which one.”
London please convey full substance this message to Eden.
- Repeated to Bonn for Conant, Rome for Murphy, and London for Aldrich.↩