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

740.5/3–3151: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Deputy Representative on the North Atlantic Council (Spofford), at London¹

secret
priority
niact

Washington, April 2, 1951—7 p. m.

Todep 342. For Spofford and Katz.

1. Highly gratified at success your efforts persuade UK accept FEB resolution, Depto 699, Mar 31.² This is State ECA message.

2. However, are concerned, as sure you are, at report UK thinking of designating Roll, which clear evidence UK does not share our view that FEB major body warranting reps at sub-ministerial level. US does not see FEB as simply WG 12 under different name but as NATO body with important functions in number other fields calling for reps of stature Hall-Patch and in our case Tyler Wood.

3. In our view relative status of Hall-Patch and Hoyer-Millar in UK shld not be insuperable obstacle in naming former.

4. Leave to your discretion what if any informal approaches to Brits you may wish to make to convey our general reaction. Wld consider most unfortunate firm UK position appoint Roll before organizing comite spells out functions which we convinced will show need for highest level reps.

Acheson

1. Repeated to Paris and to Frankfurt for Heidelberg. The telegram was drafted by L. C. Vass (RA) and cleared by him with Martin, Raynor (BNA), and, in substance, with Cleveland (ECA).
2. Supra.