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

CLASSIFIED NLT/PSF-SURT)103 INCOMING MESSAGE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY STAFF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE TOP SECRET PARAPHRASE NOT REQUIRED STATE DEPT MSG FROM: USUN NY SGD ACHESON TO: SECRETARY OF STATE NR: SECTO 40 23 SEP 50 REC'D BY STATE 23 SEP 50 Department pass Paris, London, Defense; sent Depart- ment SECTO 40, repeated Paris unnumbered, London unnumbered, Defense unnumbered, Following is summary of seventh session, tripartite meetings with Foreign Ministers and Defense Ministers, Septem- ber 22, 11:30 a.m. Secretary reviewed the problem of European defense force for the benefit of the Defense Ministers and asked the De- fense Ministers to advise the Foreign Ministers in making pro- gress for decisions on the EDF. Schuman noted that his personal views in the previous talks had been confirmed in consultations with French Govern- ment and by Moch. Minority in French Government would prefer to reject the proposal of use of German units for all time. Majority would allow discussion of German units if certain conditions are met. 1. A central European force must be created and be strong enough to be effective before German units can be con- sidered. 2. The program of materiel, outweighing the question of manpower must be answered. Decision on German participa- tion premature and dangerous and would not be advantageous in initial stages of planning. Decision impossible to keep secret and publicity would make achieving goal more difficult. No- ted that there was a marked slow-down in general Schuman Plan discussions since start of talks on European defense force due to question in German mind as to necessity of making ef- CM IN 14614 (23 Sep 50) DECLASSIFIED F.R.CEUU. 1950 VOL.III PACE 334 BYNLT.NC NARS, Date 11.27.79 pop 33f DA SCO FORM 15 JAN 1949 22-1 TOP COPY NO. U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1948--O-811947