Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Western European Integration and Security, Canada, Volume VII, Part 1

245. Telegram From the Mission at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Regional Organizations to the Department of State⁰

Paris, December 22, 1959, 9 p.m.

Polto 1215. Following are highlights of NATO Ministerial Meeting Dec 22. Full report later.¹

After exposition by Couve on behalf of four of positions and actions taken in last three days,² meeting was marked by strong expression from majority smaller NATO countries warning against political directorate being assumed by four or three major powers. While satisfactory NATO communiqué³ finally adopted after reassurances by US, UK, and France, meeting reflected strong small-power opposition to French-inspired idea of tripartitism. Principal point of objection centered in language of letters sent to Khrushchev suggesting series of summit meetings to discuss main problems affecting attainment peace and stability in world.⁴ To a number of Ministers not members of four, this suggested a precedent for discussion, and perhaps negotiation, of major world problems affecting all countries by four major powers. In addition, it was pointed out that this concept marked a new departure in giving respectability to USSR as an arbiter in world affairs. Another point objected to was concept of an open agenda for East/West summit, which some members considered dangerous.

Communiqué on new economic proposals issued Dec 21 also came in for criticism, principally with respect to composition of informal meeting to be held in Paris in near future.⁵ As result pressure on this score, France (Couve) finally stated that meeting proposed for Jan 13 would be a working party and one-shot operation to consider proposals to put before OEEC Ministerial meeting on following day.⁶

As result pressure for more thorough consultation and coordination of policies NATO-wide in preparation for summit it was agreed, on motion by Greece, that all WG reports would be submitted to NAC before decisions finalized; also it was agreed that NATO I.S. Rep should be observer on WG for East/West relations.

Throughout meeting, reassurances by US and UK, with France a reluctant third, were received with expressions of confidence in purposes and objectives of Western four, but without relinquishing point that public and parliamentary opinion in smaller countries requires closest consultation and coordination throughout period of summit preparations in order to achieve essential unity of Western position at summit.

Will submit suggestions on handling economic matter tomorrow.

Burgess

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–PA/12–2259. Secret; Niact. Repeated to London and Bonn and pouched to the other NATO capitals.
1. The “full report” may refer to the verbatim record (C–VR (59)51) which is ibid., Conference Files: Lot 64 D 60, CF 1568.
2. Reference is to the Western Heads of Government Meetings in Paris December 19–21.
3. For text of the communiqué, December 22, see Department of State Bulletin, January 11, 1960, pp. 44–45.
4. Eisenhower’s letter to Khrushchev, December 21, stated that he, De Gaulle, and Macmillan “agreed that it would be desirable for the four Heads of State or Government to meet together from time to time in each other’s countries to discuss the main problems affecting the attainment of peace and stability in the world.” (ibid., p. 44)
5. For text of this communiqué, which called for a special meeting in Paris to consider trade and aid to less-developed nations, see ibid., p. 43.
6. The Special Economic Committee met on January 12 and 13, 1960, and the OEEC Ministerial Meeting met on January 14, 1960. See Documents 95 ff.