740.5/11–354
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)1
Subject:
- NATO “New Approach” Studies
Participants:
- The President
- Secretary Dulles
- Secretary Wilson
- Adm. Radford
- Gen. Collins
- Adm. Davis
- Col. Billups
- Col. Goodpaster (White House staff)
- Livingston T. Merchant
The meeting with the President was requested jointly by Secretaries Dulles and Wilson to present to and discuss with the President the memorandum entitled “Recommended U.S. Position on NATO Nuclear Strategy”2 signed by the two Secretaries.
After a brief introduction of the subject, the Secretary of State suggested that General Collins describe the background of this project and its present status. Gen. Collins did so concisely but comprehensively.…
General Collins then pointed out that for use in discussions at the military level with our Allies before the Council meeting and, in particular, for use at the Ministerial Council meeting of NATO in December, it was important to be able to give assurances that (a) the nuclear weapons to implement agreed NATO plans would be available to U.S. forces assigned to NATO Commanders, and (b) in presenting programs for military assistance to the Congress the Executive Branch would support agreed NATO plans to accomplish the new concept.
There was some inconclusive discussion on Point A but no objection was raised to General Collins’ statement that he had answered skeptical questions from a French General by saying in effect that it was inconceivable that the U.S., after all its expenditures and after integrating nuclear weapons even into its tactical plans, would not use these weapons if war came.
On Point B, Admiral Radford expressed serious doubt as to the willingness of Congress to support a continuing large MDAP program. During the discussion it was made clear that no costing of the new program had been undertaken or was indeed possible at this stage.
[Page 533]The President said that we should be extremely careful on any commitments for increased military assistance programs. It was also made clear that the precise language in which any undertaking along this line was phrased would have to be very carefully and tightly drawn. It was also understood that no such undertaking should be given until after Congressional consultation contemplated had actually occurred. The discussion of this point ended without any precise conclusion but with what appeared to be a general understanding that what was probably indicated by the new strategy was a continuation of military assistance to NATO at about recent levels but with the funds diverted to uses other than conventional weapons comprising past programs.
Secretary Wilson pointed out that a compelling reason for supporting this new approach was the fact that it held the promise of preventing the overrunning of Western Europe in the event of war, an achievement which seemed impossible under any other strategy or war plan.
Secretary Wilson added that he also hoped it would enable him to bring two American divisions home in the near future. The President said that he disagreed and that he did not feel we should reduce our strength in Europe until Europe was stronger and in a position to really earn its own living. The President added that a clinching argument in his mind, which he often used, was that $2 billion a year spent on the forces of our NATO Allies in Europe was far more efficient in terms of U.S. defense than an additional sum of that magnitude spent directly on our own forces.
The point was then made that it would be desirable for the President personally to discuss the new approach and its implications with the Congressional leadership on both sides of the aisle. The President said that it would be difficult to collect the Congressional leaders in Washington until the new session in January but, when it was pointed out that at the latest such consultation should be held in advance of the NATO Ministerial meeting in December, the President indicated a willingness to hold such consultations this month. He mentioned Nov. 20 onwards as probably practicable. The President requested that the State Department should take the lead in collaboration with Defense in working out a proposed program for the necessary Congressional consultation.