Telegram from Ambassador Walter Gifford to Secretary of State Dean Acheson

INCOMING TELEGRAM Department of State RE 47 TELEGRAPH BRANCH CONFIDENTIAL A Action Control: 5828 EUR Rec'd: February 13, 1951 FROM: London 9:31 p.m. Info SS TO: Secretary of State G SISA NO: 4412, February 13, 7 p.m. P GER FE SENT DEPARTMENT 4412, REPEATED INFORMATION FRANKFORT 816, UNA PARIS 1480, MOSCOW, BRUSSELS, THE HAGUE, ROME, TOKYO, OLI BELGRADE UNNUMBERED, CIA ARMY 1. Foreign Affairs debate House of Commons February 12, DCR opened by Eden for Conservatives and Prime Minister for Government and wound up by Richard Law for Conservatives and Younger for Government, was not repeat not followed by vote. There was considerable agreement between opposition and government on foreign policy, but striking evidence of disunity within Labor Party itself was possibly outstanding feature of debate. 2. Eden surveyed practically entire field of foreign policy and made following principal points: (A) In view of statement Parliament Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs February 7 (EMBTEL 4337, February 8, repeated Frankfort 792, Paris 1455) he requested clarification govern- ment's policy re German contribution to west defense, asking specifically "whether government still adhere to their decision taken in Brussels last December, and whether it is their wish and their endeavor to try to bring about successful conclusion to agreement they have entered into. 11 Soviet Union has taken initiative in German rearmament -- "let that be remembered, although it is very seldom stated.' There are really only two policies for Germany. One is "to try gradually to bring Germany into closer cooperation with west" which is surely British policy. Alternative, which is apparently Soviet policy, proposes demilitarization and neutralization of Germany. In Soviet mind this is merely phase preceding Communist attempt seize power. "All same, final decision does not repeat not rest with us; it rests with Germany. It takes two to make partnership, but it is partnership we want and not repeat not hard bargaining over points which inevitably lose their value with mere passage of time. I was struck when recently in Germany by what appeared to be strongly held view that, if Germany is to play her part in western defense, that part should be played not repeat not by revival German national army but within a European army as a means of assuring security and peace in Europe. That seems to me to be very important. 11 (See separate EMBTEL on European army). -30 (B) Although REPRODUCTION OF THIS CONFIDENTIAL