Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XLI, Western Europe; NATO, 1969–1972

14. National Security Study Memorandum 43¹

Washington, April 15, 1969.

TO

• The Secretary of State
• The Secretary of Defense
• The Director of Central Intelligence

SUBJECT

• Implementation of The President’s Proposals to the NATO Ministerial Meeting

The President has directed preparation of detailed plans for the implementation of the three proposals he advanced in his address to the NATO Ministerial meeting on April 10, 1969.² These were:

(1) that Deputy Foreign Ministers meet periodically for a high-level review of major, long-range problems before the Alliance;

(2) creation of a special political planning group, not to duplicate existing bodies, but to address itself specifically and continually to the long-range problems we face; and

(3) creation of a committee on the challenges of modern society responsible to the Deputy Ministers.

The President wants to be in a position to make specific suggestions following up these proposals as soon as possible. These suggestions should deal not only with procedures but with substance.

Since the question of policy has been settled by the President’s speech, the President has directed the Under Secretaries Committee to submit by April 29 a comprehensive series of recommendations, including a discussion of problems that we may expect to encounter. He wants the American Permanent Representative to be in a position to present our proposals to the Council no later than the second week of May.

Henry A. Kissinger

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, National Security Study Memoranda (NSSM’s)—Nos. 43–103. Secret.
2. See footnote 1, Document 12.