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FOP SEGRET
-2-
We have stated in reply that European initiative
in this matter is of the first importance and the
injection of the US before agreement under Mr. Bevin's
proposal has been further developed would seem premature.
Discussion:
It is clear that the original US proposals for the
disarmament and demilitarization of Germany no longer
correspond to the realities of the present situation.
This concept was based upon the assumption of an agree-
ment of the four powers occupying Germany and contains
restrictive proposals which must embrace the four zones
of
Germany There have been indications that the French
are thinking of redrafting the Byrnes proposals a.s a
three-power agreement, but, in our opinion, it would be
futile to accept these restrictions and bind only one
part of Germany leaving the Eastern zone free to develop
its military establishment and war potential without any
restriction except those imposed unilaterally by the
Soviets as the occupying power. It is clear that other
means must be found to provide security against any
possible revival of German aggression. In seeking these
the US should be prepared to play its part and to accept
the same general responsibility in this respect in any
new arrangement as it had previously agreed to in the
four-power proposal. At the same time if the peoples
of Europe are prepared to develop a concept of spiritual
and material unity and to make this work, there will
be no real question as the long-term relationship of
the US to it and to any defense arrangements included
therein whether directed against aggression from Germany
or other sources. In the elaboration of this concept
if it should be felt in Western Europe that the direct
participation of the US in a defense arrangement estab-
lished in full harmony with the Charter of the United
Nations would be necessary to its success this country
should be prepared very carefully and sympathetically
to consider this question, but the initiative must be
taken by the European countries. As this concept is
developed and as there is evidence of unity with a firm
determination on the part of the European nations to act
in concert to defend themselves, consideration of the
role to be played by the U.S. will be facilitated.
The
DECLASSIFIED
E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E)
Dept. of State letter, 7-15-75 Aug 9,1973
SECRET
By NLT- HC , NARS Date 11-6-75
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"ocrText": "FOP SEGRET\n-2-\nWe have stated in reply that European initiative\nin this matter is of the first importance and the\ninjection of the US before agreement under Mr. Bevin's\nproposal has been further developed would seem premature.\nDiscussion:\nIt is clear that the original US proposals for the\ndisarmament and demilitarization of Germany no longer\ncorrespond to the realities of the present situation.\nThis concept was based upon the assumption of an agree-\nment of the four powers occupying Germany and contains\nrestrictive proposals which must embrace the four zones\nof\nGermany There have been indications that the French\nare thinking of redrafting the Byrnes proposals a.s a\nthree-power agreement, but, in our opinion, it would be\nfutile to accept these restrictions and bind only one\npart of Germany leaving the Eastern zone free to develop\nits military establishment and war potential without any\nrestriction except those imposed unilaterally by the\nSoviets as the occupying power. It is clear that other\nmeans must be found to provide security against any\npossible revival of German aggression. In seeking these\nthe US should be prepared to play its part and to accept\nthe same general responsibility in this respect in any\nnew arrangement as it had previously agreed to in the\nfour-power proposal. At the same time if the peoples\nof Europe are prepared to develop a concept of spiritual\nand material unity and to make this work, there will\nbe no real question as the long-term relationship of\nthe US to it and to any defense arrangements included\ntherein whether directed against aggression from Germany\nor other sources. In the elaboration of this concept\nif it should be felt in Western Europe that the direct\nparticipation of the US in a defense arrangement estab-\nlished in full harmony with the Charter of the United\nNations would be necessary to its success this country\nshould be prepared very carefully and sympathetically\nto consider this question, but the initiative must be\ntaken by the European countries. As this concept is\ndeveloped and as there is evidence of unity with a firm\ndetermination on the part of the European nations to act\nin concert to defend themselves, consideration of the\nrole to be played by the U.S. will be facilitated.\nThe\nDECLASSIFIED\nE. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E)\nDept. of State letter, 7-15-75 Aug 9,1973\nSECRET\nBy NLT- HC , NARS Date 11-6-75"
}