Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XIII, Western Europe Region

116. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State¹

Paris, December 14, 1965, 1810Z.

Secto 8. Department also pass to Defense for OSD/ISA. Following based on uncleared memcon² FYI Noforn subject to revision on review:

SecGen Brosio called on Secretary afternoon Dec 13 for general discussion NATO meeting.

Principal points made by Brosio were:

(1) His strong desire convey to Secretary European concern possibility further escalation Vietnam situation and diminution US commitment Europe. In this connection Brosio expressed view Europeans ought increase defense efforts to allow US and Western world in general greater flexibility.

(2) France-NATO. Brosio expects no clear French proposals re NATO, looks instead for bilateral pressures on us which he thinks should be regarded as problem of whole Alliance. Brosio stressed need for close study procedural aspects France-NATO problem in search of approach avoiding overt 14–1 split with isolation French. He particularly critical De Gaulle’s flirtation Moscow to weaken FedRep. Brosio expects no softening French position result elections.

Secretary emphasized Vietnam, which he told Brosio would dominate his speech at Ministerial Meeting.³ In speech he would emphasize relevance Vietnam to NATO concerns and call on member nations examine problem from standpoint national interests, considering effect on them if US failed honor Vietnam commitments. Secretary emphasized that Europeans should not see present situation in terms of US choice between Atlantic and Pacific. He pointed out US could not meet commitments in Atlantic without also meeting them in Pacific.

Other matters:

(1) Secretary told Brosio Tad Szulc story New York Times Dec 13 re Spain-NATO was devoid of substance.

(2) In exchange views on recent Soviet developments, including increase military budget, Reston interview with Kosygin, resignation Mikoyan,⁴ Secretary down-played significance, pointed out US had already increased military budget for Vietnam by as great percentage as Sovs now intended do, and that this would look small by comparison with what US would do in January. Secretary and Brosio agreed Kosygin and present collective leadership fundamentally not greatly different from predecessor and, if anything, more orthodox than Khrushchev.

(3) Brosio said he would defer raising agenda item on Cyprus pending arrival of Greek and Turkish FonMins from New York. Thought matter would come up late Wednesday.

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Secret; Limdis. Repeated to Moscow, London, Madrid, Bonn, Athens, and Ankara. Rusk was in Paris for the 36th North Atlantic Council Ministerial Meeting December 14–16.
2. The memorandum of conversation, US/MC/6, is ibid., NATO 3 FR(PA).
3. A copy of Rusk’s speech on the international situation, December 14, is ibid., Conference Files: Lot 66 D 347, CF 2574.
4. On December 9, the Soviet Union announced that Anastas I. Mikoyan had resigned as President of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet for reasons of health.