November 6, 1952
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION BY TELEPHONE
Participants: Mr. Lovett Mr. Acheson
Secretary Lovett telephoned Secretary Acheson to discuss the question of whether there should be a NATO meeting as scheduled in Paris on December 15. Mr. Lovett said that General Foulkes had spoken to him of the Canadian belief that there should not be a meeting. Foulkes had said that this was the considered opinion of the Canadian military and political people who felt that it would be a great mistake to hold the meeting since five countries do not have their figures in, and if the United States pressed for the figures, whatever figures came from those countries would be meaningless and there would be resentment of United States pressure. Mr. Lovett said that General Bradley and the Standing Group also have grave doubts of the wisdom of going on through with the meeting. Mr. Lovett's comment had been that if there were political as well as military reasons for not wanting a meeting, he thought that the Canadians should take it up with the Department of State also. Mr. Lovett could see that there might possibly be some reason why the State Department would want to see a meeting of the Foreign Ministers in connection with EDC matters. General Foulkes had said that he would take the matter up with his Government and with Ambassador Wrong.
Mr. Acheson said that the State Department had been considering the question and had concluded that a decision should not be made until Mr. Martin and Mr. Nash, who have gone to Paris, can give us their estimates of the feasibility of getting good results on figures for at least 1954 forces. Mr. Lovett said that he thought that the Defense people were alarmed about even trying to get figures for 1954 and thought the pressure to do so would be very unpopular with the other countries. The Secretary assured Mr. Lovett that the matter was very much in our minds and that he had given instructions to resolve all doubts in favor of not having the meeting, but he thought we would not be able to make a final decision for some days.
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