Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Western European Security, Volume V, Part 2

740.5/9–854: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Butterworth) to the Department of State

secret
priority

London, September 8, 1954—4 p.m.

1212. At lunch for Senator Wiley today FonSec summarised views he will put to Cabinet for discussion this afternoon briefly as follows:

(a) German admission to NATO is best solution of military problem. (b) This should be supplemented by unilateral undertaking by Adenauer to abide by certain restraints re German rearmament, (c) Brussels Agreement might be revived and revised to make (a) more palatable to France and (d) in this connection UK would increase extent of its military commitment by undertaking to keep certain forces in Germany for specific period of time.

Eden also made the following points:

(1) This was a moment when Europe had to take the initiative to sort this essentially European problem out.

(2) That no solution could be found around a NATO conference table; that the real work had to be done prior to such a meeting.

(3) That holding of NATO meeting in New York about this essentially European problem was impractical regardless of whether or not many of Foreign Ministers were fortuitously there. In this connection he indicated he had received a message from Mike Pearson saying he was prepared to come to Europe. Needless to say I pointed out US had not and was not specifically urging any locus. Eden favored Rome.

Interchanges between Eden and Wiley were most cordial and friendly, as were those of yesterday when Wiley lunched with Churchill.

Senator after stating Communist objectives emphasized time element and danger of failure of London conference without adequate preparation and suggested that what was needed was a “Colonel House” to tour relevant capitols, lay foundations of agreement and particularly find firm basis among majority of French Deputies for agreement that would be approved. It so happens that I had been given to understand confidentially that Eden is contemplating undertaking just such a trip which will probably be discussed at Cabinet meeting this afternoon. Senator’s suggestion was silently but obviously well received by Eden, Makins and Macmillan. Incidentally, Eden indicated that Adenauer had suggested that problem be first discussed on an Anglo-German basis which Eden said he found embarrassing; this will probably clinch trip.

Eden found occasion to tell me how much he appreciated Gen. Smith’s message.¹ Makins leaves Sat. for Washington.

Butterworth

1. Presumably a reference to Dulles’ letter to Eden, dated Sept. 8 (infra), which was sent to London from Washington by the Acting Secretary of State.