DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Secretary
February 29, 1952
Mr. Spofford called me from London this morning and said that he, Mr. Gifford and General Draper had all called on Mr. Eden today with regard to the appointment of a Secretary General for NATO.
Mr. Spofford said that Mr. Eden would not accept Mr. Pearson's decision as final and was going to call him today in order to ascertain what the real problem was. He said that Mr. Eden was uncertain whether that was really a government matter or whether this was a decision which grew out of reluctance on Mr. Pearson's part to be "second choice", or to be forced as an automatic choice since Sir Oliver was not available. Mr. Spofford said that Mr. Eden, depending on what he found out from Mr. Pearson, might ask us and the French to join in an approach to the Canadian Government, urging that Mr. Pearson accept the appointment. He asked whether we thought that was still the best solution. I said that I felt sure that we would be glad to have Mr. Pearson although I was not sure whether we would want to force him if he were reluctant to take the job or if the Canadians had good reason for not wanting to release him. I said I felt sure we would join in Mr. Eden's approach if the outcome of Mr. Eden and Mr. Pearson's talk gave any hope of success.
Mr. Spofford told me that Mr. Eden and the United States group named about had talked about other choices and it had come out during this discussion that the French were opposed to Mr. Lange. Mr. Spofford said the French were interested in either Mr. Francois-Poncet, Mr. Herve Alphand or a "French fellow in the United Nations" in New York. Mr. Spofford was not using names but was indentifying people by positions. I think the quotation probably refers to Mr. La Coste.
I told Mr. Spofford that the Department was inclined to believe that the appointment of a Frenchman should not be made. He said he agreed.
Mr. Spofford said that the name of Dana Wilgress had been mentioned. Mr. Spofford said he was very competent and was someone in whom he had complete confidence. He said that all had agreed that this tended to move the level of appointment
- 2 -
down somewhat.
I told Mr. Spofford that we were considering the problem here and hoped to have a meeting on it this afternoon, after which we would send him a telegram if we had anything to suggest.
Mr. Spofford said he was not calling the Deputies together pending word from us. He promised to keep me informed on Mr. Eden's call to Mr. Pearson.
LDB
S:LDBattle:ma