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

740.5/10–2551: Telegram

The United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford) to the Secretary of State ¹

secret

London, October 25, 1951—7 p. m.

Depto 508. Ref Depto 473² and 502.³ Discussed with Hoyer-Millar today coordination of various Ger questions in preparation for Rome. He at first indicated preference for postponing Rome mtg but believe he now agrees on importance of having mtg even if final action impossible on either Ger or TCC. He stated, incidentally, that Harriman had told Makins TCC report wld not be finished before December 5.

He stated UK also preoccupied with pulling ends together and EDC–NATO relationships. Their preference was for earliest possible tripartite discussion not necessarily at ministerial level and that discussion next week by three Deps, assisted by whatever experts each govt considered desirable, wld be useful before question discussed by CD. He indicated UK thinking on EDC–NATO relationship generally along lines of Depto 473, considered Ger membership in NATO essential, and Fr unreadiness to face it raising numerous otherwise avoidable difficulties.

Spofford

1. Repeated to Paris, Bonn, and Frankfurt.
2. Of October 18, p. 891.
3. Of October 23, p. 898.