Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 1

740.5/9–1053

Memorandum by Russell Fessenden of the Office of European Regional Affairs to the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)¹

secret

[Washington,] undated.

British Assurances to France on Maintenance of Troops on the Continent

The British are prepared to give assurances on the maintenance of their troops on the Continent² in the following form:

(1) British agreement to consult with the EDC on the level of forces to be maintained on the Continent, in particular whenever, within the framework of NATO decisions (i.e., the Annual Review),³ a substantial modification is envisaged in the level or composition of forces placed at the disposal of the NATO Supreme Commander.

(2) British agreement to join with the EDC nations in supporting the extension of the North Atlantic Treaty to make it co-terminous with the 50-year EDC treaty.

When the negotiations on British association began last winter, the French had asked the British to give flat assurance that they would maintain the present level of their forces on the Continent for the duration of the EDC Treaty. This the British obviously could not accept, but they did come up with the above formula designed to go as far as possible in meeting the French desires.

At present these assurances are embodied in two documents (copies attached)⁴ which are under discussion in the EDC Interim Commission and on which the British and the EDC countries are in general agreement. The British cabinet is reported to have agreed in principle, and the French also appear to be satisfied.

The first of the two documents will be in the form of an agreement between the U.K. and the signatories of the EDC Treaty. In addition to the provision for consulting on the level of British forces to be maintained on the Continent, it also provides the following:(a) technical military collaboration between the EDC and British forces, (b) the presence of a British Minister on the EDC Council of Ministers whenever questions concerning British-EDC collaboration are being discussed, and (c) the appointment of a British representative and a British mission to the EDC Commissariat. Supplementing this agreement will be an annex setting forth the details of British military association with the European Army. Although relatively little progress has been made on this, it should not necessarily hold up agreement on the main document.

The second document is in the form of a joint declaration by the U.K. and the six EDC countries in which the U.K. associates itself with the EDC countries in their previously announced desire to make the North Atlantic Treaty co-terminous with the EDC and to take the initiative in NATO to bring this about.

Agreement on the precise wording of the two documents is expected to be reached soon and the two agreements will then be ready for final approval by governments. There is tacit understanding among all concerned that announcement of these agreements, which are sufficiently far-reaching to have a very favorable impact on French ratification, should be withheld until the most opportune moment for influencing French public opinion. So far, all EDC countries have cooperated fully in this effort to avoid all publicity.

1. A covering memorandum from Fessenden to Merchant, dated Sept. 10, 1953 reads “Ridge Knight passed on to me your request for information on this subject. Attached is a brief statement of where it stands” (740.5/9–1053).
2. Telegram Polto 2365 from Paris, June 11, reported inter alia that at the informal meeting of the North Atlantic Council on the morning of June 10 the U.K. Representative referred to the desire of his government to establish a close association with the EDC. “He had announced proposed arrangements for military association some time ago in council and was now authorized to state his government wished establish relations on political side as well. U.K. proposals had been communicated to EDC about two weeks ago and are now being studied by Interim Committee. He said proposals had been generally welcomed and it was hoped suitable method of achieving political association would soon be worked out. He would keep council informed of developments, but requested that nothing be said publicly about this development for present. French representative confirmed importance of U.K. proposals, said details must be worked out and EDC members must concert regarding timing of publication this development” (740.5/6–1153).
3. For documentation on NATO Annual Review procedures, see pp. 1 ff.
4. Neither printed.