Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLTCNAUA Aidel 288 The OFFICE OF DECLASSIFIED THE SECRETARY OF STATE May E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 WASHINGTON State Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 DEB NLT, Date 9-6-85 November 28, 1951 By TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS NORTH ATLANTIC At the third meeting of the Council, General COUNCIL Gruenther presented the SHAPE report on Soviet military capabilities and the estimated Soviet strength S in various branches, along with the SHAPE estimates for West- ern requirements. Mr. Harriman presented a progress report on the Temporary Council Committee, and General Eisenhower spoke to the Council on the necessity for making real contributions to the effective- ness of the Western military machine rather than merely projecting statistical plans for the future. Eisenhower also made a strong plea for concerted effort and launched into his "favorite topic", European unity, calling for an immediate European army and further implementation of the Schuman Plan. The fourth meeting of the Council took up the Defense Ministers' report on the revised Medium Term Defense Plan, and adopted a resolution stating that: 1) the need for creation of a NATO defense force adequate to deter aggression has not lessened; 2) the NATO military principle of realizing the greatest operational readiness while defense preparations move forward must be effectively applied; and 3) that the need to take economic measures necessary to support defense preparations, as well as the need for every possible economy in defense preparations, requires the most careful consideration by NATO agencies and member countries of the findings and recommendations of the TCC. The resolution directs the TCC to submit its final report sufficiently prior to the next NAC meeting to permit action by the governments at that meet- ing, and requests member nations meanwhile to proceed immediately on the 1952 portion of the MTDP plan and to bring about the greatest feasible defense combat capability of the NATO forces in 1952. MIDDLE EAST Prince Faisal delivered a note from King Ibn COMMAND Saud to our Embassy in Jidda on Monday con- cerning the Saudi Arabian attitude toward the MEC. The note says that all the Arab states are closely watching the TOP SECRET SECURITY INEORMATION