Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XIII, Western Europe Region

331. Telegram From the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to the Department of State¹

Brussels, October 5, 1968, 1358Z.

5096. Subject: European caucus in NATO. Ref: Bonn 17686 (Notal).²

1. European caucus idea may now have more potential life than at any previous time; we agree with reftel that the best way to nurse it along is not to crush it in a US embrace.

2. It seems likely there will be considerable discussion around edges of NPG Bonn meeting about the defense topics that might be discussed among British and some or all of the European Five. Healey apparently intends to raise question with Schroeder, and reftels indicate Germans may for first time be receptive. Lively interest of Dutch and Belgians is predictable. And if everybody else is doing it, Italians will join in too.

3. In addition to Healey’s intentions as reported by Embassy London, UK PermRep Burrows already has general instructions to confer informally here with his continental colleagues, and is talking with Belgian PermRep De Staercke about arranging informal Europe-only gathering.

4. If they stick to NATO defense topics, UK plus the Five can automatically avoid the French problem, since France has so clearly opted out of the whole process of DPC consideration of defense implications of recent Soviet behavior in Eastern Europe. This line was drawn early, clearly, and without heartburn this week in discussion that led to agreed DPC decision paper (USNATO 5085).³

5. Burrows has sought assurance that some European caucusing among NATO colleagues would be all right with us. I have said that has been and remains our position: the more European initiative in NATO, the better.

6. But would stongly advise against any public advocacy of this trend by American spokesmen. The shoots are tender, and too much watering may drown them.

Cleveland

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 12 NATO. Secret. Repeated to London, Luxembourg, Paris, Rome, The Hague, and Brussels for the Mission to the EC and the Embassy.
2. Dated October 5. (Ibid., Conference Files: Lot 69 D 182, CF 318)
3. Telegram 5085, October 4, transmitted the text of the DPC “Decision on the Military Implications of the Warsaw Pact Invasion of Czechoslovakia,”DPC/D(68)30. (Ibid., Central Files, DEF 1 NATO)