Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, European Security and the German Question, Volume III, Part 1

740.5/9–2051: Telegram

The United States Delegation at the Seventh Session of the North Atlantic Council to the Acting Secretary of State¹

secret

Ottawa, September 20, 1951—1 a. m.

Secto 27. During sessions of Council September 19² consideration given to resolution submitted by five power sub-committee under Item VI, three papers proposed with reference Item IV on future meetings, order of business, and DPB and FEB reports, and paper prepared by special meetings of Ministers on Item VIII. Resolution proposed on Item VIII creating high level temporary committee to study coordinated analysis defense plans was approved by Council (Secto 23)³ as was resolution on defense production and financial problems (Secto 24).⁴ Council will meet Thursday a. m. to consider papers mentioned still under consideration and to continue discussion Item V suspended from Tuesday morning meeting.

At opening of morning meeting Council took up proposed declaration on future development NATO⁵ setting forth concept that peoples of NA Community are united to preserve their freedom and develop their common heritage of democracy, liberty and rule of law. Fol brief preliminary discussion, Council adjourned until 3 p. m., to study text. During break private meeting of one Minister from each country called at suggestion chairman to consider further proposed [goals] under Item VIII. Discussion re Item VI proposal continued at afternoon session with several proposals for minor revisions. No significant discussion aside from slight dispute on possible mention of UN, proposed by Morrison and defended by Acheson. De Gasperi expressed gratitude efforts of Ministers meet Italian concern re discriminatory treaty provisions though these not mentioned. Lange suggested consideration be given at some point in future deliberations to associating Parliamentary reps in Council work.

Fol another break Council took up and approved Item VIII resolution.⁶ Spofford pointed out NATO coordinating group now serving CD wld continue and function as means of providing info to proposed high level committee. NATO coordinating group ad hoc body and therefore proposed committee created no jurisdictional problem. Council next turned attention papers submitted under Item IV.⁷ Adopted proposal covering DPB and FEB reports, with Neth rep noting smaller countries wld have difficulty coming up to high and expensive standards of performance which might be possible on part of other countries. Proposal re order of business set aside for further study and consideration Thursday.

Finally Council agreed that more frequent regular meetings NAC should be held three or four times a year but postponed final action re date and place of next meeting. UK rep pointed out British Government wld require two to three weeks after October 25 elections before it cld properly participate in Council mtg and Schuman called attention possible conflict with UN in event postponement.

1. Repeated to The Hague, Paris, Oslo, Copenhagen, London, Rome, Luxembourg, Brussels, and Frankfurt for Handy.
2. This telegram, not printed, reported on the proceedings of the eighth and ninth meetings of the Council at 10:00 a. m. and 3 p. m. on Wednesday, September 19.
3. Infra.

4. Not printed; it informed the Department of State concerning the substance of the resolution which was circulated at the meetings as Council Document C7–D/20. The resolution noted the reports of the various agencies of NATO as called for in agenda item IV and requested closer coordination between all NATO agencies, civilian and military (740.5/9–1951).

   The progress reports from the Standing Group, the Defense Production Board, the Financial and Economic Board, and the Council Deputies were circulated as Parts I–IV of Council Document C7–D/1. The report of the Chairman of the Council Deputies, which is printed in full on pp. 272–279, was circulated as Council Document C7–D/3.

5. The declaration referred to here was read by Van Houtte, discussed, and then circulated as Council Document C7–D/18 for individual study before further discussion. For action on this resolution, see telegram Secto 32 from Ottawa, September 20, p. 683 and footnotes thereto.
6. See infra and footnotes thereto.
7. See footnote 4 above.