Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Western European Integration and Security, Canada, Volume VII, Part 1

158. Memorandum of Conversation⁰

Boston, September 27, 1958.

PARTICIPANTS

• M. Paul-Henri Spaak, Secretary-General to NATO
• M. Andre Saint-Mleux, Assistant to the Secretary-General
• Gen. Alden K. Sibley, U.S. Host to M. Spaak in Boston
• The Secretary of State
• Ambassador W. Randolph Burgess, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO
• Mr. Joseph N. Greene, Special Assistant to the Secretary
• Mr. Arthur A. Compton, Special Assistant to the Director, EUR/RA

SUBJECT

• Political Consultation in NATO

In the course of a conversation on a number of subjects of concern to NATO (reported on in a separate memorandum of conversation),¹ M. Spaak stressed the importance of further developing the practice of political consultation in NATO. He expressed appreciation for the great United States contribution to this activity during the past year, citing especially the United States statement on the Lebanon crisis as a good example of advance consultation.² Although M. Spaak felt that in the case of the North Atlantic Council discussion on Lebanon general agreement had been reached that United States intervention might become necessary, it appeared later that not all NATO countries had the same impression.

M. Spaak said this leads to the question of the meaning of “diplomatic silence” on the part of other representatives, during discussions of important policy statements on the part of one or more North Atlantic Council members. If greater harmonization of important political policies of NATO Governments is to result, there must be fuller discussion in the North Atlantic Council. He said this was not an immediate but a long-range problem of considerable importance.

The Secretary commented that perhaps one problem in this connection was that many Permanent Representatives lacked authority to speak for their Governments on these issues. Ambassador Burgess pointed out that the North Atlantic Council discussion of the most recent United States statement regarding the Formosa Straits situation showed that when encouraged to do so many Permanent Representatives are prepared to speak up and a worthwhile discussion ensues.³

M. Spaak referred to the successful consultation in the North Atlantic Council regarding notes to the Soviets by member countries, again complimenting the United States on having submitted all its proposed replies to Soviet notes on matters of concern to NATO for consultation before their delivery. He recognized that speed was of the essence if such consultations were to continue successfully and said it now appeared possible to accomplish such consultation within a 48-hour limit.

The Secretary said the United States would see what could be done to make consultation more profitable, emphasizing other members must be prepared to speak up more frequently. He noted that in his recent talks with the Belgian Foreign Minister the latter did not appear to be fully familiar with the discussions which had been taking place in NATO.⁴

M. Spaak agreed improvement could be made in a number of countries to assure that information on NATO political consultations is made available to the highest officials in member Governments.

0. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D199. Secret. Drafted by Compton on October 1. The meeting was held in the Copley Plaza Hotel.
1. Presumably Document 157.
2. Not further identified.
3. Reference is apparently to a statement released by the White House at Newport, Rhode Island, on September 20; see Department of State Bulletin, October 6, 1958, pp. 530–531. No record of NAC discussion of that statement has been found.
4. No record of a meeting between Dulles and the Belgian Foreign Minister has been found.