Office of the Historian

330. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization1

Washington, October 2, 1968, 1514Z.

248482. Subject: Special NAC Meeting October 1.

1.
We have just completed quick review of reporting cables (notably USNATO 5001, USNATO 5002 and USNATO 5004)2 describing proceedings at Special NAC October 1. Results to this point give nothing but keen disappointment and deep concern.
2.
What we discern as clear and urgent need to establish a “NATO umbrella” (State 247261, paragraphs 4, 5 and 6; and State 247343, paragraph 3) [Page 766] 3 seems to have become lost in welter of discussion over texts and procedural processing of various assessments. Only Netherlands Representative Boon (USNATO 5004, paragraph 10) has grasped the central issue of need for decisions, i.e., an agreed NATO Minute, approved on an ad interim basis by Permanent Representatives.
3.
If other Permanent Representatives continue present stalling tactics which seem certain to immure us in yet another meaningless paper exercise in order to accommodate French and/or others, you should immediately exert maximum leadership to guide proceedings along track similar to that we found ourselves forced to follow to bring Harmel exercise to a successful conclusion. Those steps are as follows:
a.
In NAC work out the best agreed conclusions that you can achieve.
b.
In NAC you may also “note” assessments as necessary and useful background but under no circumstances should you allow us to become trapped in the endless negotiation of textual changes.
c.
Our objective is concise, well-worded Agreed Minute which would provide needed umbrella for national contributions to NATO to improve capabilities. Our first choice is achieve this in NAC. However, if this clearly not possible, you should immediately convene DPC and get on with working out an ad referendum Agreed Minute containing constructive conclusions and recommendations which the Foreign Ministers can usefully address when they meet with the Secretary in New York on October 7.
Katzenbach
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, NATO 3. Secret; Flash. Drafted by McAuliffe and approved by Springsteen.↩
  2. Telegrams 5001 and 5002, October 1, and telegram 5004, October 2, reported on the special North Atlantic Council meeting held October 1. (All ibid., DEF 1 NATO)↩
  3. Telegrams 247261 and 247343, September 30, pointed out that the special North Atlantic Council meeting was an occasion to take stock of the situation in light of NATO’s activities in the 6 weeks following the invasion of Czechoslovakia, and offered guidance for the meeting. (Ibid.)↩