Telegram from Secretary of State Dean Acheson to the Department of State

Ner (BSF-526-194 CLASSIFIED FOP SECRE Ly 1090 INCOMING DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY MESSAGE STAFF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE TOP SECRET PARAPHRASE NOT REQUIRED ROUTINE STATE DEPT MSG FROM: USUN NEW YORK, NEW YORK SGD ACHESON TO : SECRETARY OF STATE NR: SECTO 18 161328Z 16 SEP 50 Army pass Dept of Defense, Sent Dept SECTO 18, PRIORITY, repeated PRIORITY Brussels (Passed to Luxembourg) unnumbered, Ottawa unnum, Copenhagen unnum, Paris (Passed OSR) unnum, Rome unnum, The Hague unnum, Ost.c unnum, Lisbon unnum, London unnum, Heidelberg for Handy unnum, Department of Defense unnum. Summary, Second Meeting, Fifth Session, North Atlantic Council, 3 pm Sept 15. 1. Continued discussion agenda item 4 re Defense 663 WE. 2. Portugal stated that both increased troops in Europe and German participation in European defense desir- able and stated that defense lines should be as far to east in dermany as possible but that realism dictated preparation of secondary lines of defense should initial battle go badly (no specific mention of Spain) 3. Norway stressed psychological and political problems involved in use of German manpower. Recognized possibility utilizing German manpower but noted German re- luctance to take part in defense of west, possible Soviet reaction to German participation, and adverse propaganda if Germans hastily taken into defense forces of west. Proposed NATO begin studying technical aspects of problem of utiliz- ing German resources and manpower but would need consult Norwegian Government before approving German participation and believes we should move cautiously. CM IN 12245 (16 Sep 50) 1613282 DECLASSIFIED F.R. or U.S. VOL.II 1950 Face 309 NARS, Date 11.26.79 pop 309 143 DA SCO FORM TOP SECRIS 2 COPY NO. 22-1 L U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1948---O-811947 15 JAN 1949