Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLT ( Haval A.de)119 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON November 17, 1950 T SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS WESTERN EUROPE On the basis of discussions with the North Atlantic Council Deputies and a conference with Ambassadors Douglas and Bruce and High Commissioner McCloy on Department proposals, our Deputy on the North Atlantic Council has pro- posed a course of action for reaching agreement on the question of Ger- man participation in western European defense. He believes that the greatest prospect for early agreement appears to lie in separating imme- - diate military arrangements from the discussions of a political super- structure for western Europe as proposed by the French. He feels it might be possible to obtain French agreement immediately to the essen- tials of US military proposals, including participation of German units up to the regimental-combat-tean level, if our proposals: 1) were termed provisional in certain respects; 2) provided that during a ¹transitional" period strong NAT or tripartite controls would be maintained over the recruitment of German manpower and the procurement of German mater- - iel; and 3) provided that we would encourage the convening of the inter- - ested European powers to negotiate with respect to a western European political superstructure, such negotiations to be held during the transi- tional period. He suggests that a prior understanding could be reached that the provisional arrangements adopted would continue until super - seded by arrangements developed within the framework of an agreed European political structure, if established. If the French should fail to obtain agreement from the other powers to establish these political institutions, the provisional arrangements would either become final or could be modified as necessary. Our Deputy believes that this course of action should appeal to the Germans since the essential arrangements are frankly provisional and do not involve any acceptance of French leader- - ship, and that it should meet our views since it would permit the essen- tials of the US plan to be adopted immediately. He points out that while the French reaction to this proposal cannot be accurately judged, our encouragement of negotiations for a European political structure might provide sufficient inducement for the French to accept the proposals. He comments that, although the smaller NAT nations may be reluctant to enter into such negotiations, they should be willing to do so as long as they are DECLASSIFIED Authority N.T- B8-14 T DEB N.T Date 10-18-88