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

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

London, May 14, 1965, 10 a.m.

Secto 19. Following summary of Secretary’s conversation May 13 with NATO SecGen Brosio is uncleared. Noforn and subject to revision:

1. Ministerial Meeting. Brosio thanked Secretary for coming and said his presence on second day was decisive factor in making meeting successful.² In response to Brosio question about US tactics on communique paragraph re Vietnam,³ Secretary said that French policy now so broadly recognized as peace regardless of consequences that neither US nor Asians much concerned about French attitude Vietnam.

2. NATO Nuclear Committee. Secretary explained that US slowed down activity MLF Working Group as accommodation to FRG and not to De Gaulle or Russians. Germans don’t want to push subject before September elections and all interested participants want to keep discussions going in meantime. Brosio said he considering parallel activity, discussions of nuclear policy in NATO Nuclear Committee in June. Some NATO countries desire meeting and he thought France willing to participate. It would initially examine information available since discussions of 1962. He hoped US could contribute useful information.

Secretary cautioned Nuclear Committee meeting might raise serious problems between Paris and Bonn and suggested most important that Schroeder be in full agreement before initiation such sensitive meetings, especially in light of possible talks between French and Gromyko on nuclear matters about which we and Germans have not been filled in. Brosio admitted that at moment Germans less keen than others, but had objected only on basis of possible conflict with ANF/MLF Working Group. Popper warned US has no great new array information available for presentation at a June meeting. Secretary referred to analysis of Peking possible second nuclear explosion, which would be reported NAC in any case. Secretary suggested that alleged differences on strategy between major NATO countries is more matter of politics and budgets than true military question. He did not despair that quietly over time apparent differences might be resolved. Brosio said it was for this reason he would shortly see Messmer about forthcoming Defense Ministers’ meeting. He hoped in time common ground would evolve although not optimistic much more would emerge from DefMin’s meeting than agreement for studies to continue.

3. State of Alliance. Brosio referred to Mr. Ball’s suggestions for more intensive study of state of Alliance and asked how urgently we viewed problem. Secretary explained that last December De Gaulle had said French would make proposals for Alliance reorganization, probably in 1967 in anticipation of 1969 date. He now had impression French might be advancing timetable. Question therefore is do we wait and see what De Gaulle suggests or do we try to see what remaining members want. For example, do Europeans want to organize defense together with US or separately. In spite of prosperity, Europeans show no signs of being ready to pay for own separate defense. Finletter cautioned that, although we must prepare for serious French surprises, he doubted whether the Permanent Council was at this stage right arena for raising substantive discussion of state of Alliance. Secretary observed that when husband and wife talk of divorce, it is already too late. US does not want to push far-reaching over-hasty fundamental discussions but does wish to begin preparations where possible.

Brosio thought his and Secretary’s approach much the same. He agreed it was desirable to prepare the ground; however, it was better not to pin ourselves down too firmly about time and type of activity at this point.

4. Cyprus. Secretary said Greeks and Turks continuing to meet bilaterally and working on location further talks with Greeks preferring New York and Turks Paris. Brosio said Costopoulos⁴ claimed Makarios had agreed to accept whatever two sides agreed upon and Secretary cautioned against over-optimism on Makarios.

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 66 D 347, CF 2505. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Vest and cleared by Popper. Repeated to Paris Topol and Bonn.
2. Records of the public, closed, and restricted sessions of the 35th meeting of the North Atlantic Council May 11–13 are ibid., Central Files, NATO 3 UK(LO). Copies of these records, delegation background and briefing papers, memoranda of conversation, and telegrams to and from the U.S. Delegation are ibid., Conference Files: Lot 66 D 347, CF 2503–2512.
3. For text of the final communique, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1965, pp. 439–440.
4. Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Costopoulos.