Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Western Europe, Volume III

740.5/8–450: Telegram

The United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford) to the Secretary of State

top secret

London, August 4, 1950—3 p. m.

Depto 39. Following is report of 7th session NAC deputies:

1. Spofford outlined suggested course of action Depto 38 in implementation recommendation for increased effective forces, pointing out necessity get action on forces parallel that deputies had already initiated on military production. Following comments made re information to be obtained from governments: (a) should take account practical possibility equipping forces (including MDAP). No point increasing forces beyond ability equip (France); (b) should include steps taken increase size and effectiveness forces to maintain internal security (France); (c) effective reserves as well as active forces should be included (Canada); (d) geographical location forces now, and to extent possible prediction July 1, 1951, should be indicated (Netherlands and France); (e) types of units and state of readiness (that is degree equipped) should be indicative [indicated?] (France).

2. Draft committee representing US, UK, France, Netherlands, and Norway appointed to draft proposal in light discussion for consideration Friday.

3. Report of ocean shipping board discussed: (a) UK suggested hypothesis in paragraph 4 annex 3 (assumptions that all world except Iron Curtain countries, areas within Baltic, West Germany and Austria, would be available as sources supply, and assumption through voyages in Mediterranean impossible in event of war) be referred standing group for comment; (b) Canada suggested DFEC should examine economic aspects of assumptions on which estimates of civilian requirements based (paragraph 3 annex 3); (c) deputies adopted both suggestions.

4. Discussed agenda item 9 (council resolution 4/7 paragraph (c)¹), procedure for consideration of political matters of common interest; agreed any deputy should be free to raise any problem for informal discussion among deputies at any time but that some notice of important new subjects would be desirable.

5. Discussed procedure public information activities: agreed only small staff should be established initially, depending on national apparatus of member countries for operating function. Agreed important for information staff keep in personal contact with national information officials. Deputies will formalize agreement tomorrow after consideration paper to be submitted by US deputy.

6. Gave preliminary consideration to problems arising under Article 2. Discussed possibility establishing liaison between DFEC and OEEC. French pointed out difficulties arising from sensitivity non-NAT members of OEEC to discussing all military matters. Deputies agreed, (a) that, as in case of political matters, deputies would be free to raise particular economic problems for consideration by deputies when desired, and (b) that there would be no formal liaison with OEEC, but that NAT members would and could maintain informal contacts with OEEC through their country delegations.

7. Discussed UK suggestion that NAT nations should adopt common approach for national memoranda used in third report by OEEC, and agreed refer question to DFEC.

8. Deputies agreed recess after August 4 meeting.

Sent Department Depto 39; repeated info Paris 194 pass OSR, The Hague 35, Brussels 35, Copenhagen 27, Oslo 21, Ottawa 12, Lisbon 17, Rome 49, Frankfort unnumbered, pass Heidelberg 11 for Handy.

[Spofford]

1. North Atlantic Council resolution on NATO central machinery. See Department of State Bulletin, May 29, 1950, p. 831.