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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S 199VERNMENT

Printed for the Cabinet. March 1951

CONFIDENTIAL

C.P. (51) 87

19th March, 1951

CABINET

Copy No.31

APPOINTMENT OF A SUPREME COMMANDER ATLANTIC

MEMORANDUM BY THE PRIME MINISTER

At the meeting of the Cabinet on 12th March, I undertook to circulate for the information of those of my colleagues who are not members of the Defence Committee a statement of the case for the appointment of an American officer as Supreme Commander Atlantic.

2. The idea of appointing a single Supreme Commander for the North Atlantic Ocean has been under discussion since the earliest days of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Although it was a matter in which all the twelve N.A.T.O. Powers had a legitimate interest, it was one in which we and the United States were clearly far more concerned than any other country. Discussions between ourselves and the Americans have accordingly been proceeding on a Service level over the last two or three years. At a very early stage after the birth of N.A.T.O. it was agreed by all twelve nations on a similar level that the Supreme Commander should be an American officer. In subscribing to this decision, the Government were acting in accordance with the clearly expressed views of the Chiefs of Staff. Further discussion centred on such questions as the location of his headquarters (finally decided in favour of Norfolk, Virginia), the organisation of the command and the precise responsibilities which the Supreme Commander should exercise. On this latter point there was never any disagree- ment as to the Supreme Commander's responsibilities in a broad sense, but certain details have been under discussion. In particular we have been at some pains to ensure that the Supreme Commander's responsibilities in peace-time should be limited to planning and to the supervision of combined manœuvres and that responsibility for basic training in the Royal Navy should remain with the British Admiralty.

3. In October last year the results of these discussions were crystallised in a report submitted to the Defence Committee of N.A.T.O., and approved by them at their meeting in Washington. The decision having been taken that the Supreme Commander should be an American officer, it was then for President Truman to nominate an individual. This he has now done. We in common with the other members of N.A.T.O. have been asked for our approval and we have given it.

4. Once the appointment has been formally agreed it will remain for the Supreme Commander to build up his staff.

5. In spite of the very clear statements made by myself in the House of Commons on 26th February and by the First Lord of the Admiralty in the House of Lords on 1st March, it is obvious that there is still a good deal of misunder- standing about the organisation of N.A.T.O. and the way these command appointments fit into it.

6. In the first place there seems to be a widespread belief that while General Eisenhower has been appointed Supreme Land Commander the Supreme Com- mander Atlantic will be a Supreme Naval Commander. This is a misconception. The truth of the matter is that the whole of the area covered by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is to be divided geographically. General Eisenhower will be the Supree Commander Europe. As his main problem will be age défonce 587

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