298. Telegram From the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to the Department of State1
Brussels, March 28, 1968,
1451Z.
2341. NATUS. Subject: NAC consultation on bilateral East-West talks on European security. Ref: USNATO 2334.2
- 1.
- Following are highlight impressions from lengthy March 27 NAC discussion, sparked by Brosio, of relationship between bilateral East-West contacts and NAC consultations on detente-related subject. General level of animation no doubt due to fact that Luns, in his talks with Hungarians and Yugoslavs, touched on issue of finding way for East Germans to make views known on future security arrangements in Europe.
- 2.
- Belgians and Dutch, seconded by Scandinavians, are quite defensive about role of smaller allies in taking soundings with East and are tempted to equate impasse on fundamental European issues with giganticism of major powers. Dutch PermRep, reading from instructions spoke somewhat emotionally to point there no “monopoly” on detente initiatives.
- 3.
- FRG apparently determined to prevent if possible even exploratory discussion in Group of Ten or elsewhere of East German representation. PermRep Grewe in final intervention put “precise point” that FRG was posing to allies its “desire” that GDR question “should not be touched at this time, at least, without consulting us” adding that allies traditionally respected such wishes of members if vital national interests concerned.
- 4.
- At same time, Grewe was at pains to leave door open when he stressed that position on GDR could not be fixed in advance because FRG views not necessarily same next year or two years from now as they are today. He said that “everything depends on conditions and prospects.”
- 5.
- Italians continue surprisingly strong and solid support of FRG, perhaps because their traditional allergy to being left out is reinforced in this case by fact that their opposition identifies them with larger rather than smaller allies.
- 6.
- French are participating in debate, picking up marbles in Bonn by standing firmly on special responsibility of quadripartite powers, no doubt conscious that this is their most visible political credential of major [Page 685] power status. This has interesting effect of winning French endorsement of relevance of multilateral as well as bilateral approaches to major East-West issues.
- 7.
- British, who announced in NAC upcoming Eastern European tour by Foreign Minister Stewart, are avoiding main issues and not asserting four power prerogatives, though UK Del tells us here they working on Dutch bilaterally re Luns initiative.
- 8.
- Debate in NAC and senior political
committee is serving several purposes which in our view are healthy:
- A.
- Smoking out intentions and aspirations of allies in detente politics which clearly remains in vogue with majority of allies.
- B.
- Creating climate in which allies are unlikely to make more than tentative new probes without returning to Council for consultations.
- C.
- Revealing built-in governors which should bring about more realistic expectations on part of more optimistic allies.
- 9.
- So far as procedural status, Brosio summarized situation as follows, which seems
accurate rendition to us:
- A.
- Difficult to draw line where exploratory discussions begin to shade into negotiation but only practical approach is to leave that judgment to Western principal undertaking probe.
- B.
- On subjects identified in Harmel Report as future tasks of Alliance, NAC consultations have taken “a step forward from general to specific” discussion.
- C.
- Best way to avoid possible damage from bilateral initiatives is to continue consultations already begun in NAC and senior Political Committee.
Cleveland
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 1 EUR. Secret; Priority. Repeated to the other NATO capitals and Warsaw.↩
- Telegram 2334, March 27, transmitted a summary of the North Atlantic Council meeting of March 27, which included a preliminary discussion of bilateral East-West talks on European security. (Ibid., NATO 8–2)↩