Office of the Historian

740.5/3–451: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford), at London1

secret
niact
priority
Washington, March 5, 1951—8 p. m.

Todep 288. Following are State–ECA–Defense comments on Depto 586.2

1. Suggest that in para 3 a new sentence be inserted after sentence beginning “To this end”. “In order to permit such an arrangement to function smoothly and in view of the importance of close working relations between the FEB and the OEEC, it is believed desirable that the FEB be located in the same city as the OEEC”.

2. Suggest that there be added at the end of first sentence of para 4 the following language: “and shall see that the FEB and the DPB take effective coordinated action and establish and maintain close working relations with each other”.

[Page 79]

3. After second sentence of para 4 it is suggested there be inserted following sentence: “Issues on which the FEB is unable to reach agreement may also be referred where practical and useful to the CD for resolution”.

4. First proposal is all that can be said definitely on location question at this time. Note you hope to avoid this issue in Deps but not sure this feasible or desirable. Feel strongly that without finally committing ourselves as to where NAT–OEEC shld be, it is more important that FEB be located adjacent to OEEC than to Deps or DPB. This wld mean that unless new decisions are taken by NATO and OEEC on location, the FEB wld be located in Paris. If question shld arise as to whether US attaches importance to close working relations between FEB and Deps and DPB, you can of course answer in affirmative. The issue is rather one of relative importance in immediate future.

5. Purpose of last two suggestions is to strengthen position and responsibilities of CD to insure effective working of NATO.

6. What is your intention respect PBOS? Language para 2 broad and cannot clear today any change.

7. This proposal also raises issues with respect to future of DFEC on which we hope to send you instructions in a day or so as part of general NAT reorganization plan.

Webb
  1. E. M. Martin drafted the message and cleared it with Cabot, Halaby (ECA), Colonel Beebe, and Gordon.↩
  2. March 4, p. 75.↩