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

740.5/12–1553: Telegram

The United States Delegation at the North Atlantic Council Meeting to the Department of State ¹

secret
priority

Paris, December 15, 1953—11 p.m.

Secto 6. Subject: NATO Ministerial Meeting.

Item VI—Date of next meeting.

At suggestion US permanent representative it was agreed effort be made hold next meeting early April with view coinciding with five-year anniversary NATO.

Unrelated subject.

Canadian Foreign Minister, referring to chairman’s suggestion yesterday² re restricted session Ministers, inquired whether Bidault intended proceed further with suggestion. Chairman said he still favored such meeting if agreeable his colleagues. No objections were raised and US Secretary State suggested would be helpful if it understood there would be only Ministers and perhaps only one adviser per Minister. Chairman said he would go further and recommend meeting be restricted three Ministers and one adviser per del, one interpreter, permanent representatives and Secretary General. His recommendation was accepted and restricted meeting will be held tomorrow morning 11 O’clock followed by afternoon closing plenary session.³

1. Repeated to the other NATO capitals and to Bonn, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, and Heidelberg.
2. Regarding Bidault’s suggestion, see Secto 3, Dec. 14, p. 455.
3. For the record of the restricted session, see Merchant’s notes, p. 476.