Presidential Papers, Doc#1930 To Clarence Kirshman Streit, 26 July 1956. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Doc #1931

Document #1930; July 26, 1956
To Clarence Kirshman Streit
Series: EM, WHCF, Confidential File: Atlantic Community
The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVII - The Presidency: The Middle Way
Part X: Cracks in the Alliance; May 1956 to September 1956
Chapter 20: Confronting "great risks"

 

Dear Mr. Streit: Thank you for your letter of July twenty-fourth referring to the Resolution for an Atlantic Exploratory Convention.1 I am aware of your deep interest in furthering a closer unity among the members of the Atlantic Community. Because I share that interest, I have given your letter earnest study.2

As the Secretary of State has, I believe, explained to you, the Administration has in recent months given considerable thought to the strengthening of the Atlantic Community and is currently cooperating with the Committee of Three Ministers appointed by the North Atlantic Council in May of this year to study this subject.3 The study now being made by the Committee of Three Ministers, which this government supports, is in the context of at least a fifteen-nation Community. The Convention, on the other hand, would be concerned with a seven-nation Community, or, if amended as suggested by some of the sponsors, with a nine- or ten-nation Community.4

Under the circumstances, you will understand the concern I have felt over the possibility of seeming simultaneously to support two different concepts of Atlantic unity, and thus creating confusion.5

It was to avoid such a possibility that the Administration decided not to take, at this moment, a position in affirmative support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 12.6 This by no means forecloses future consideration of the alternative you support. I am most deeply appreciative of your continuing interest in this subject.7

With personal regard, Sincerely

1 Streit was author of Union Now (New York, 1940), which called for a federation of the Atlantic democracies to replace national governments. He was also editor of the periodical Federal Union. He had written Eisenhower to advocate a convention of representatives from the nations bordering the Atlantic--patterned on the 1787 Constitutional Convention--to start such a federation. Streit's ambitious plans differed greatly from the Administration's more limited proposals for using NATO to promote a modest increase in nonmilitary cooperation among its fifteen member nations (Streit to Eisenhower, July 24, 1956; "Why Congress Should Adopt Now The Amended Atlantic Convention Resolution," condensed statement by Clarence K. Streit at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, July 11, 1956, same file as document; on NATO cooperation see no. 1964).

2 A State Department draft of Eisenhower's reply (originally intended for signature by Sherman Adams) is in the same file as the document (see Howe to Goodpaster, July 20, 1956, same file as document; Hoover to Eisenhower, July 26, 1956, ibid.). This sentence was added at the White House. The President had already declined to meet with Streit (Shanley to Roper, July 25, 1956, ibid.).

3 The Committee of Three--comprised of three foreign ministers: Lester B. Pearson of Canada, Halvard M. Lange of Norway, and Gaetano Martino of Italy--would study ways of improving cooperation within NATO (State, Foreign Relations, 1955-1957, vol. IV, Western European Security and Integration, p. 75). See also no. 1964; for developments see no. 2122.

4 The President was referring to the fact that Streit's scheme excluded several NATO member countries (see Dulles to Streit, July 20, 1956, same file as document; Dulles declined to support Streit's proposal). For background see no. 1872.

5 Ignoring the fact that Administration policy was to work within NATO, Streit would urge the President to name a commission to further Atlantic union (Streit to Eisenhower, Aug. 11, 1956, same file as document).

6 On Resolution 12, which supported a meeting to create a stronger Atlantic Union, see Streit's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, July 11, 1956; and other papers in the same file as the document.

7 The final two sentences were added to the draft at the White House.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Clarence Kirshman Streit, 26 July 1956. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1930. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/first-term/documents/1930.cfm

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