289. Memorandum of Conversation1
SUBJECT
- NATO Secretary General Brosio’s Visit to the White House (Part 2 of 5)—NATO and Europe
PARTICIPANTS
- The President
- Secretary General Manlio Brosio
- Ambassador Harlan Cleveland
2. NATO and Europe
Brosio outlined work now underway in NATO on the political side—the search for a basis for European political settlement, work on arms control and study of the new situation created by Soviet penetration in the Mediterranean. Brosio stressed the need for continuing defense effort within a period when we are looking forward to the possibility of discussions with the Soviet Union about the future of Europe.
The President said he was very clear on the need to maintain the level of forces required to maintain effective deterrent in Europe. He referred to the contrary views among the Senate leadership, but left no impression that these affected his own determination. I suggested that there was a close connection between the notion of seeking a balanced reduction of forces on which NATO is now beginning to work, and the need to maintain an agreed level of forces as a basis from which reductions might be calculated and negotiated; otherwise the Soviet would not need to negotiate but merely need to wait until the forces on our side melt away. The President expressed his agreement with this line of argument [Page 668] and with its relevance to discussions here this year on the Mansfield Resolution.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, NATO 7. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Cleveland and approved by the White House on February 28.↩