Office of the Historian

248. Circular Telegram From the Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Missions1

Washington, April 12, 1957—3:39 p.m.

820. For Chiefs of Mission. Paris 5202.2 Major theme discussion forthcoming Western European COM Conference (Depcirtel 771 March 223) will be preservation and strengthening Western alliance. Instead usual practice individual country report by each COM propose devote sessions to discussion following topics having direct bearing on major theme, and broad enough to permit extensive consideration such important specific subjects as German Reunification, European Security, and Disarmament:

1.
National attitudes toward U.S. foreign policy, with regard (a) to East-West relations and (b) to immediate interests of country concerned.
2.
National attitudes toward Soviet foreign policy, and relations with U.S.S.R. (including estimates of role of local Communist Party).
3.
NATO: Military and political aspects: (a) national attitudes toward NATO strategy and defense requirements; and (b) non-military aspects of NATO, including particularly development of political consultation.
4.
Prospects for European unity and cooperation, including: (a) Common Market and EURATOM; (b) free trade area, and (c) British relationships with the continent, and proposal for coordination of consultative assemblies (“Grand Design”).
5.
The colonial question and the UN.

Morning May 6 will be devoted to report on NAC Bonn meeting4 and general discussion. While each five remaining sessions being tentatively allotted to each of the above topics, intend retain flexibility and vary amount time given each topic according interest discussion.

Suggest each addressee be prepared contribute to discussion each topic which we hope will take form free exchange views.

Department will welcome suggestions.

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 120.1451/4–1257. Confidential. Drafted on April 11 by Tyler; approved by Elbrick. Sent to Bern, Bonn, Brussels, Lisbon, Luxembourg, LUXCO, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Paris for USRO, Rome, The Hague, and Vienna.↩
  2. Telegram 5202, April 10, asked for the agenda for the Chiefs of Mission meeting. (Ibid., 120.1451/4–1057)↩
  3. Telegram 771 invited the Chiefs of Mission at the Embassies listed in footnote 1 above to attend the meeting in Paris. (Ibid., 120.1451/3–2257)↩
  4. Regarding the North Atlantic Council meeting at Bonn, May 2–4, 1957, see Document 56.↩