Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 1

740.5/9–353: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France ¹

top secret

Washington, September 3, 1953—7:30 p.m.

791. Pass Hughes and Reinhardt for SACEUR. Limit distribution.

This is joint State–Defense message.

Defense now proposes issue single brief press release 1900 hours September 15 re deployment battalion of 280 mm. mobile guns. This will follow movement directive to battalion to be dispatched from Department Army at midnight 14–15 September. Text release agreed by State and Defense carried in immediately following telegram.²

Simultaneous with movement directive Army and State will provide appropriate PIO’s and Public Affairs Officers with guidance instructing them, in brief, to play story down and volunteer no information beyond that contained in release, but also providing them with clarification to be used as inquiries require it.

On September 9, assuming no radical upset in German elections, projected deployment will be notified to Military Representatives Committee Washington and upon receipt word this has taken place Hughes is requested to see to notification on following day of NAC, in person or through Ismay. This procedure together with relevant policy guidance outlined in letter from Matthews to Nash July 30,³ copies of which General Schuyler brought to Hughes and SACEUR⁴ August 29. Notification on private and personal basis should be given by HICOG to Adenauer day after notification given to NAC.

As stated Matthews letter, no information should be volunteered to Military Representatives Committee or NAC that atomic ammunition not being shipped Europe with guns. If this question raised by foreign officials reply should be that at moment only guns and conventional ammunition involved and should be emphasized this information must be treated for obvious security reasons with highest secrecy and given very limited distribution on strictly need-to-know basis.

With reference Matthews letter, paragraph 6, US CINCEUR will be authorized to reopen exploration this matter on strictly confidential basis with Netherlands Government through Military Attaché US Embassy Hague.

Comments of Hughes and SACEUR on proposed press release and related procedures requested as urgent matter.⁵

Dulles

1. This telegram, which was drafted by Unger on Aug. 27, cleared with Lewis, MacArthur, Bonbright, Arneson, the Bureau of Public Affairs and the Department of Defense, and initialed for Secretary Dulles by Matthews, was also sent to Bonn.
2. Telegram 792 to Paris, Sept. 3 (740.5/9–353). The release indicated that the 280mm artillery battalions would shortly be deployed in Europe, that the deployment was part of established U.S. policy to make available support for NATO, that the weapon was highly mobile, had a long range and could use either conventional or atomic ammunition, but that it was no substitute for other weapons and forces necessary for the defense of Europe.
3. Supra.
4. Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther.
5. In telegram Polto 346, Sept. 5, and telegram 1006, Sept. 11, both from Paris, Hughes and Dillon offered minor drafting changes (740.5/9–553 and 9–1153). These were accepted on Sept. 9 and 12, respectively, by the Departments of State and Defense in telegrams 858 and 919 to Paris (740.5/9–953 and 9–1153) and the press statement released on Sept. 15 as scheduled. No copy of the final text has been found in Department of State files.