740.5/3–2051: Telegram
The United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford) to the Secretary of State 1
Depto 651. This msg supplements para 2 Depto 650.2
1. CD held prelim discussion Mar 19 on US proposal for establishment of FEB (see D–D (51) 72, Mar 153—in addition to regular distribution, copies pouched all ECA mission chiefs). Most deputies uninstructed but almost all, led by UK deputy, expressed opposition to any resolution which wld endorse in advance gen principles of US proposal. On other hand, appeared be unanimous willingness appoint organizing comite and call into session at early date, as well as willingness pursue discussions in CD of gen principles US paper prior to and during session of organizing comite with view providing comite further guidance. Expect obtain resolution, or more likely agreed [minute on?] FEB along those lines.
2. UK was the most critical of US proposal, expressing fears of duplicating machinery and labeling US proposal as “too elaborate.” UK was only deputy who showed resistance to basic conception of central NATO financial and economic agency. Fr deputy supported by several other deputies including UK criticized proposal of FEB making some recommendations direct to govt, calling it “sidetracking” of CD. US deputy defended this arrangement with respect to matters of insufficient importance to justify CD discussion. Canada deputy supported by several other deputies suggested that existing NATO bodies in financial and economic fields shld be abolished rather than transformed in FEB subcomites, leaving FEB organize its work as it saw best. Several deputies, while endorsing location FEB Paris, expressed concern about maintenance liaison with Dep and DPB in London and Nor deputy, refusing to “beat around the bush” said this problem cld only be resolved by transfer of NATO agencies from London to Paris.
3. Fr. Deputy with some support from others proposed WG of 12 act as organizing comite mtg in Paris, but large majority appeared favor mtg in London of ad hoc comite consisting of representatives [Page 101] (who might in any case be members WG of 12) specially designated for purpose by govts. This issue, like terms of ref of comite, put over until Wed.
- Repeated to Paris for Embassy and OSR, to the other NATO capitals, to Frankfurt, to Heidelberg for Handy, and to Wiesbaden for Norstad.↩
- Telegram Depto 650, March 19, not printed, summarized briefly the discussion of several matters covered on March 19 at the 22d meeting of the Council Deputies.↩
- Council Deputies document D–D (51) 72 was Spofford’s proposal as described in Depto 586 and modified by Todep 288 and Depto 619, all printed pp. 75, 78, 97. He had distributed the document in the CD meeting of March 15 on authorization contained in telegram Todep 299 of March 13, not printed (740.5/3–451).↩