Office of the Historian

299. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization1

Washington, April 10, 1968, 2152Z.

144640. NATUS. Refs: A. USNATO 2093; B. London 7068.2 Subj: Europe’s Role in NATO.

1.
We do not agree with comment in reftel A regarding risk of European separatism as opposed to Atlantic cooperation. Rather, our general posture must be to examine sympathetically and on merits any European ideas or initiatives looking toward improved balance as between Europe and North America within the Alliance. This attitude is consist-ent with long-standing US views reiterated in the Secretary’s December 2 remarks to United Italian-American Labor Council in New York3 and most recently by the Under Secretary in January 1968 speech in Chicago.4
2.
We are satisfied with the current organization at SHAPE and believe alteration lessening US influence dependent on it being clearly evident that change responded to a general European desire for greater responsibility which could be expected to produce substantial benefits.
3.
Re specific ideas mentioned in reftels, we have no objection in principle to examine ways and means to strengthen Deputy SACEUR’s role. However, a non-American as SHAPE Chief of Staff would present various practical problems at this time, due to certain sensitive functions C/S performs for SACEUR. Therefore change in present Chief of Staff nationality would necessitate other special arrangements.
4.
Before proceeding further, Brosio should be encouraged to discuss matter with SACEUR.
Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 4 NATO. Secret. Drafted by Myerson and Captain Hanks (OSD/ISA); cleared by OSD/ISA, JCS, and McAuliffe; and approved by Springsteen. Repeated to the other NATO capitals, SHAPE for POLAD, EUCOM for POLAD, and USCINCEUR.↩
  2. Telegram 2093, March 12, briefly reviewed Brosio’s views on a European military caucus within NATO and commented that they seemed headed for European separatism rather than Atlantic cooperation. (Ibid.) Telegram 7068, March 8, transmitted a lengthy summary of Brosio’s March 4–5 visit to London, where he had also floated the idea. (Ibid., NATO 7)↩
  3. For text of these remarks, see Department of State Bulletin, December 25, 1967, pp. 855–859.↩
  4. For text of this speech, see ibid., February 5, 1968, pp. 168–172.↩