370. Telegram From the Department of State to the Secretary of State, at Geneva1

Tedul 89. Concur fully your reasoning and proposed text Dulte 78.2

In addition, submit following thoughts on impact of communiqué and other statements, public and classified, on NATO nations in light tendency of peoples to indulge in wishful thinking on results of conference as indicating propriety of reduced defense efforts.

Specific problem is how to create correct impression without having it result in atmosphere of either too much sweetness and light on one hand or overselling of resumption of cold war on other. Purpose would be to convince NATO people that best way to insure continuation of meaningful check on Soviet military pressures and most promising way to obtain maximum dividends from such present possibilities of détente as are available is to recall that NATO’s cohesion and strength have made present situation possible and therefore we should persevere along same general lines as in past.

We tend to think that some major attention should be focused on this problem at North Atlantic Council level, not at International Staff or technical level. This is matter we can consider further after final tripartite statement to NAC and Secretary has made report to nation.

However, we feel that tone of final report to Council on Foreign Ministers Meeting and general attitude taken by US, will be of utmost importance in setting tone for necessity of continuation NATO effort upon which maintenance of collective deterrent and common policy depends.

Hoover
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–GE/11–455. Secret; Niact. Drafted by Wolf and cleared by Murphy and Elbrick.
  2. Document 366.