Office of the Historian

328. Memorandum of Conversation0

March 23, 1960, 3 p.m.

SUBJECT

  • Spanish Membership in NATO

PARTICIPANTS

  • U.S.
    • The Under Secretary for Political Affairs
    • Ambassador John Davis Lodge
    • Mr. Robert H. McBride, WE
    • Mr. Francis R. Starrs, WE
    • Mr. Fernando A. Van Reigersberg, LS
  • Spanish
    • Sr. Fernando Maria Castiella, Spanish Foreign Minister
    • Ambassador Jose M. de Areilza, Spanish Embassy
    • Sr. Jaime de Pinies, Spanish Foreign Ministry

Following the exchange of greetings, a general discussion took place on coverage by the press of the Foreign Minister’s visit. The Foreign Minister, Mr. Merchant and Ambassador Lodge agreed that it was difficult to satisfy the press with a statement about the talks when no problems exist between the two conferring countries. Ambassador Lodge mentioned that the fact that the Minister had not raised the question of Spanish membership in NATO during the discussions was itself an item of news.

Mr. Merchant said that the United States looked forward with pleasure and anticipation to the day when Spain would be a member of NATO. He added that the Minister could now reply to anyone who asked that the United States, rather than Spain, had raised the NATO question.

  1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 64 D 559, CF 1616. Confidential. Drafted by Starrs and approved in M on April 5. Four separate memoranda covering this conversation were prepared; see Documents 329–331.↩