7525 MSP/3–2353

No. 893
The Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Bonbright) to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Nash)1

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My Dear Mr. Nash: Reference is made to your letter of March 23, 19532 with regard to the recommendations of the Department of Defense concerning military aid for Spain.

The Department of State is fully in agreement with your conclusion that the positions of our two Departments are very close with respect to the practical steps which could be carried out on this subject in the short period ahead for which we can make concrete plans. Since there appear to be no differences between our two Departments with respect to preparing a military aid program for Spain FY 1954, and in view of the fact that we will shortly be reviewing all aspects of the negotiations with Spain, including the question of military aid, I would suggest that the matter of the United States Government’s long-range planning for military aid to Spain be considered in connection with this forthcoming review.

In this connection the Department of State continues to believe that the acceptance by the United States Government of a military aid program of the nature and magnitude recommended in the JUSMG report of August 20, 19523 would require a major policy decision by the Government. You may recall that the Washington agencies concerned so advised Assistant Secretary of State Perkins in a telegram4 last September in preparation for a meeting with [Page 1936] the United States negotiators. At that time we pointed out that the JUSMG report constituted an entirely new concept of military aid from that on which our negotiating position is based. In effect the United States would be undertaking a program to strengthen the Spanish armed forces as such rather than placing emphasis on the development of those military facilities in Spain which will contribute to the defense of the West and basing our concept of military aid accordingly on the development and protection of the desired facilities and the extension of some training equipment to the Spanish forces. As we agreed then, such a decision would require consultations with the British and French Governments in accordance with prior commitments made to them to that effect.

It is for these reasons, as elaborated in Mr. Matthews’ letter of February 3, 1953,5 that the Department of State believes that this matter involves a major policy decision. In view of these considerations this Department therefore suggests that the matter be held in abeyance pending the imminent review of the negotiations with the Spanish Government.

Sincerely yours,

James C. H. Bonbright
  1. Drafted by Dunham.
  2. In his letter, Nash rejected the assertion made in Matthews’ letter to Wilson (Document 878), that the proposals for a new aid program made by the Embassy in Spain in October and November 1952 fundamentally revised the estimates made by Kissner in his report to the JCS, approved in December 1952. (752.5 MSP/3–2353)
  3. See Document 868.
  4. Telegram 2154 to London, Sept. 25, 1952. (711.56352/9–2552)
  5. Document 878.