73. Memorandum of a Conversation, Paris, December 14, 1957, 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.1
PARTICIPANTS
- Secretary of Defense McElroy
- Secretary-General Spaak
- John Haskell (USRO/DEF)
SUBJECT
- Secretary McElroy’s Visit with Secretary-General Spaak
Mr. Spaak first ran down the situation facing the Conference on the political front. He mentioned that the French and German Delegations had so far seemed to hold back, and he did not have a very good idea of what they might bring up. For example, he thought that it was possible that the French might raise the Algerian question. He guessed that the Greeks would not raise Cyprus, and he was pretty sure that the UK and Turkey would not.
Spaak stated his view that the new Bulganin letters2 would have no harmful effect on member countries’ attitudes, but, on the contrary, served to underline the very great importance of NATO in the defense of the free world.
Moving to the military problems, Spaak emphasized the political concerns of the French Government with respect both to the storage of atomic warheads and to IRBMs.
. . . . . . .
As to the IRBMs, Mr. Spaak referred to the French desire for equality with other nations.
Secretary McElroy stated that, if the NATO stockpile plan and the IRBMs were accepted for NATO as a whole, there would have to be individual bilateral arrangements worked out between the US and each country concerned.…
[Page 231]Secretary McElroy pointed out that the production of the IRBMs in the US was coming along quite satisfactorily, and he believed that additional squadrons accepted by NATO and Continental countries would probably be available for delivery just about as fast as the countries concerned could complete their advance arrangements for sites and training.
. . . . . . .
Referring to science matters, he thought that the picture was still quite blurred as to just what should be done in NATO. He felt, however, there was full agreement on the desirability of having a scientific committee to sort out the details and a top calibre scientific advisor. In this connection, he more or less assumed that the US would provide the top scientific advisor. Secretary McElroy said that, if that should be the wish of NATO, he was sure that the US could produce a highly-competent top-level man, subject, of course, to the personal acceptance of Spaak himself.
Spaak referred, with an air of some concern, to the Soviets’ missile capabilities that had been described by General Piatt at the joint NAC–Military Committee meeting on December 13.3
The discussion, which lasted about half an hour, was conducted on a most informal, relaxed tone in English. It ended on a note and hope of optimism, although Spaak said he was tempering his optimism as to final results until the end of the Conference.
- Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 63 D 123, CF 948A. Secret. This conversation took place in the Palais de Chaillot.↩
- See footnote 4, supra.↩
- A brief report on this meeting, where General Piatt gave an intelligence briefing, was transmitted in Polto 1759, December 14. (Department of State, Central Files, 740.5/12–1457)↩