Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western Europe and Canada, Volume VI, Part 2

EUR files, lot 59 D 233, “Spanish Subject files IV”

No. 899
The Deputy Under Secretary of State (Matthews) to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Kyes)

top secret

[Washington,] August 4, 1953.

My Dear Mr. Kyes: Confirming staff conversations on the question whether the channel of authority for Spanish base construction and command should be through CINCEUR or through the Air Force, I wish to advise you that the State Department has reviewed its position in the light of present circumstances, and is of the opinion that the existing arrangement should remain in effect. It is understood this arrangement was proposed by General Kissner and provides that, for a period of one year following the signing of the agreements, one senior Air Force official should be responsible for all United States military activities in Spain, for the construction of the bases, and for the supervision of the MAAG. The senior Air Force officer, working closely with the Ambassador, would report to the JCS through the Air Force as executive agent.

In the opinion of the State Department, the considerations which entered into its support of this arrangement last February¹ still prevail:

1. The arrangement would effect better coordination by providing on the United States side one senior officer to report to and work with the Ambassador, and on the Spanish side, a single point of contact which the Spaniards have already indicated they consider desirable.

2. It would avoid arousing undue concern among our NATO allies that the United States is trying to bring Spain into NATO through the back door. While these fears have somewhat subsided in recent months, they would be revived by linking the Spanish base program at this time to CINCEUR.

3. Finally, the plan to use the Air Force as executive agent in Spain would elicit greater cooperation from the Spanish Government than one which would tend to associate Spain to NATO.²

Sincerely yours,

H. Freeman Matthews

1. See Document 880.
2. In his response of Sept. 2, Kyes confirmed that the Secretary of Defense had agreed to the Department of State position on this question. (711.56352/9–253)