Office of the Historian

242. Telegram From the Delegation at the North Atlantic Council Ministerial Meeting to the Department of State0

Paris, December 18, 1959, 5 p.m.

Polto 1179. From USDel. Subject: Ministerial NAC meeting afternoon December 17:1 action on Admiral Wright, resolution on defense, time and place of next meeting, other business, and communiqué.

Council adopted resolution accepting Admiral Wright’s resignation and requesting United States designate successor which Spaak anticipated might be named to NAC December 22.2

AR resolution3 was superseded by resolution on defense prepared by IS at Spaak’s request. Defense resolution attempted take account of [Page 556] interventions made previous day. Text of defense resolution as approved being transmitted separate message.4 Paragraph 3 accepted by Belgium in light of Belgian statements made during AR examination. Language paragraph 5 represents compromise, after considerable NAC discussion.

United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Denmark insisted they must have some flexibility make changes, and Denmark made clear for record that it was developing new defense system and could accept language paragraph 5 as approved only if understood that Denmark might reduce size of forces on condition appropriate NATO authorities agreed no loss effectiveness involved. Strauss and Spaak both warned strongly against exploitation of such flexibility to make unilateral reduction in NATO commitments under facade of alleged maintenance combat effectiveness.

Defense Ministers’ meeting anticipated for next March in paragraph 8 primarily intended consider report (described previous message)5 on discussions between SACEUR and French Government regarding nuclear weapons and air defense. Spaak made it clear that Permanent Council would arrange timing and terms of reference Defense Ministers’ meeting.

[3 paragraphs (20 lines of source text) not declassified]

Wigny read statement on Belgium aid to and political objectives in Congo,6 described political conflicts in area, and referred to Belgium’s growing financial burden in this area. Circulated pamphlet on Congo to Council.7 Expressed confidence Belgium has NAC support for program and objectives in Congo.

At invitation of Turkish Government it was agreed that next Ministerial session of Council will take place in Istanbul in May 1960.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–PA/12–1859. Secret; Priority. Repeated to London and Bonn and pouched to the other NATO capitals.↩
  2. The verbatim (C–VR (59)50) and summary (C–R (59)50) records of this session, both dated December 17, are ibid., Conference Files: Lot 64 D 560, CF 1559 and 1558, respectfully.↩
  3. The undated draft resolution accepting Admiral Wright’s resignation and requesting nomination of a U.S. officer to be his successor is ibid., CF 1567.↩
  4. See footnote 7, Document 239.↩
  5. Document 243.↩
  6. Not further identified.↩
  7. Wigny’s statement has not been found.↩
  8. Not found.↩