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

CLASSIFIED TOP SFADK INCOMING DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY MESSAGE STAFF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE TOP SECRET PARAFHRASE NOT REQUIRED PRIORITY STATE DEPT MSC c3 FROM: USUN NEW YORK NY SGD ACHESOX MI C TO: SECRETARY OF STATE WASH DO oc NR: SECTO 20 170230Z 16 SEP 50 20. Army pass Dept Defense. Dept pass Brussels a Luxembourg, Ottawa, Copenhagen, Paris (pass OSR), Rome, Hague, Oslo, Lisbon, London, Heidel- berg for Handy, sent Dept SECTO 20, rptd Brussels, Luxembourg, Ottawa, Copenhagen, Paris, Rome, Hague, Oslo, Lisbon, Heidel- berg as unnumbered. For President and Acting Secretary. Summaxy Third Mtg North Atlantic Council Fifth Session Sept 16 10: 30 AM. 1. o Continued discussion item four of agenda. 2. Schuman opened with strong statement regarding participation Ger manpower in defense of West Eur making usual points. Stated We are asking for conscription Germans, not volunteers. Latter might be more acceptable. Cited Ger CDU Party statement participation Ger divisions premature. Does not believe Ger public opinion prepared accept. Also raised legal ques whether Ger units can participate without adhering to NAT, which wld require action by twelve parli- DE : aments. Stressed psychological obstac les. An announced o decision here on principle wid be to present peoples with of as fait accompli, and might be .counterproductive to desired result. Suggest EE refugees might be among first to appear in Ger units and pointed out effect on EE peoples of USSR propaganda playing up theme that EE refugees will be the firat line Army of west. Agreed with Secys statement yester- day that strengthening defense itself involves risk provo- eation. However that risk must be accepted. This additional risk need not be. CM IN 12400 (17 Sep 50) DECLASSIFIED F.R.OF U.S. up. E 311 By WITH NARS, Date 11-27-79 119 DA SCO FORM 22-1 for SLCKN COPY NO. 15 JAN 1949 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1948-0-811947