era of negotiation and his hope for an advance in this direction
with due caution and on a broad front with respect both to the
limitation of armaments and other political questions which
caused dangerous tension in the world. We have also noted that,
while exploring these possibilities, the United States intended
to consult fully with its NATO Allies in order to take account
of their views in all matters in which they were concerned.
the same time the Alliance as a whole has been considering the
purposes and conditions of a resumption of contacts with the
Soviet Union and countries of Eastern Europe, to conduct useful
business where this is possible without appearing to condone the
aggression against Czechoslovakia.
At
38. Allied Governments will also wish as soon as circumstances
permit to resume their search for progress in the basic East/West
questions which relate directly to the situation of the Alliance
in Europe, most prominent among which are the question of
European security, the German question, and the possibility
of mutual balanced force reductions in Europe. In this connec-
tion I cannot say that we found the "peace appeal" put out by
the Warsaw Pact on 17 March very constructive. The greater part
of their proposals were a repetition of similar earlier statements.
From what I have already said you will know that we do not look
with favour on the suggestion that NATO (and the Warsaw Pact)
should be abolished. Nor can we accept the proposal for a
conference on European security. The Alliance has made clear
that it wishes to make progress on the problem of European
security, a conference would have to be carefully prepared.
There would have to be a clear prospect of progress on the
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