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| Updated: 24-Jun-2002 | NATO Speeches |
Palais de | Several Speeches in Honor of General Gruenther A farewell ceremony held for General Alfred M. Gruenther, the departing Supreme Allied Commander EuropeLORD ISMAY Will you come to order. General Gruenther - gentlemen, this is a sad but historic occasion. We're assembled here to bid farewell to the man who has made the greatest contribution to the health and strength and unity of NATO of any man living. When I first came to Paris nearly 5 years ago, I called on President Eisenhower, who was then SACEUR at SHAPE, immediately I got here, and his first observation was "We two ought to have been out at grass a long time ago". I didn't feel that he would be likely to see any quiet pastures for some time. However, he went on and talked about work at SHAPE and he said "I've been very lucky, I've had the two best Staff Officers that there have ever been -Bedell Smith and Gruenther" and having served with Staff Officers of many nationalities, I agree with him entirely. There are very few of us here who remember our first meeting round this table in 1952, and the business was to select a successor to General Elsenhower. General Ridgway was selected but when it was heard that General Gruenther was staying on as Chief of Staff, those of us who were here will remember the relief with which that announcement was heard. And when in May 1953, General Ridgway was called to other business in Washington, and the President sent | General Gruenther's name for nomination as his successor, it was received with the greatest acclamation. But, mind you, there were doubts in some minds, I believe, because a Staff Officer has not always got the qualities that a Commander requires. He identifies himself so closely with his Commander that he may lose his own personality a little bit and the power of leadership. General Gruenther has proved that that generality, or generalisation, was absolutely wrong in his case. He has proved, if anything, a finer Commander than he was a Staff Officer. We all knew he had got encyclopaedic knowledge and a phenomenal memory. Incidentally, to play bridge with him is an education, but if you happen to cut against him, you're not likely to have a very profitable evening. We know he'd got those qualities but what we didn't realise was that he'd perhaps the extraordinary degree to which he'd got the characteristics of the great Commander. The man who can give an order in a way that it's a pleasure to obey it. The man who can inspire, not fear, but the greatest respect and devotion among his staff. He has shown that he has got the most sympathetic personality. Never have any of us gone to him for help that it hasn't been given in full measure. He's always been able to find time to help. It's been a joy to work with him, and he's 'been much more than a Commander, he's been a statesman of the highest order and he's been a public relations officer to whom business firms would pay untold fortunes if they could get hold of him. This is not a plant, I promise, this is a letter I got this morning from the Mayor of the local town in Gloucestershire, or actually it's Worcestershire, Evesham. Ho is the President of the Evesham branch of the United Nations but he heard General Gruenther speaking on the broadcast and he asked me for advice. He says: "Can you please put us on the right course to learn more of NATO at work - we would welcome the opportunity to see conditions as they exist and then to be able to pass this information on. Listening to the many sides of the work of General Gruenther as revealed at the ceremony marking his retirement last week, we are all inspired to do anything we possibly can to further this great work". Now that's not a plant, that is one of the many things that one hears about the trouble he has taken to spread the gospel of NATO all over the world. Well, so much for General Gruenther
as a Commander, and as a statesman and as a public relations officer. Could I
just tell you one little story about "Al" as a human being. He came
to stay with us in Gloucestershire and he landed at an airport in the West Country.
Out of the aeroplane came not only General and Mrs. Gruenther, but about 20 or
25 British men and women. They were members of SHAPE staff who General Gruenther
had found out lived in that part of the world, and he had arranged to give them
a week-end while he was having one. And not only that, he'd arranged transport
for them. There are not many Commanders, busy Commanders, who have time to think of that sort of thing. When we got home, to our great relief my mass of grandchildren were in bed, and the house was quiet; and it was unnaturally quiet the next morning, and I couldn't make out what had happened. And I was told that the nursery had been told that there was a very important and very tired General staying in the house, and that if his sleep was disturbed, there would be the devil to pay. It was a great relief I can assure you but suddenly pandemonium broke out and I afterwards learned that the important General, attired in shorts and a vest, indeed I am not quite sure about the vest but certainly the shorts, had arrived in the nursery and had said "Nanny, I want someone to play with". Whereupon two urchins, grand-sons of mine aged. six and. five attached, themselves to him for the rest of his visit and when he left they wept "bitter tears. That I think is a sideline. Well I have spoken far too long. It is with very heavy hearts that we say good-bye to you. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the wonderful work you have done, for having been such a grand companion, for having set us such a wonderful example. We know that you will continue the good work. We feel sure that you will pay a visit to your old haunts whenever you can and we wish you God speed and. the very best of luck wherever you go and whatever you do.
DISCOURS PRONONCE PAR S.E. M. André de STAERCKE REPRESENTANT PERMANENT DE LA BELGIQUE DOYEN DU CONSEIL DE L'ATLANTIQUE NORD On est toujours injuste envers ses amis, soit qu'on dise trop de bien d'eux, soit qu'on, n'en dise pas assez. La difficulté avec le Général Gruenther, c'est qu'il n'y a pas moyen d'être juste. Tout le bien qu'on dit de lui est inférieur à ce qu'on en pense et à ce qu'il fait. Je vais donc être injuste et parler de lui le mieux que je peux. Dans les circonstances dramatiques que nous traversons,
on ne peut s'empêcher de penser à ce voyage que le Général
Eisenhower entreprit il y a six ans pour se rendre comptée si le monde
libre voulait, et pouvait être sauvé. Le Général Gruenther
était avec lui. Depuis lors, avec son aide, sous son impulsion et enfin
sous son commandement, les forces de l'Occident ont été organisées
pour sa défense. Nous avons passé par des heures obscures et bien
d'autres sans doute sont encore devant nous. Mais un double réconfort nous
a soutenu : la certitude que notre protection était entre les meilleures
mains et l'espoir que notre solidarité et notre union nous épargneraient
le sort affreux des faibles livrés à ces puissances d'iniquité
qui se rient de la justice et de l'immense cri de souffrance de 'ceux qu'ils écrasent.
Grâce à vous et à vos collaborateurs, peut-être éviterons-nous
qu'un jour le dernier homme libre lance dans le ciel vide un dernier message que
plus personne ne pourrait capter : S.O.S., sauvez nos âmes, sauvez-nous. Comme le veilleur fatigué de la Bible, nous aspirons tous aux premières lueurs de l'aurore. Mais vous étiez avec nous dans la longue nuit et vous nous avez donné confiance. Comment pourrions-nous jamais oublier l'organisateur infatigable de notre défense, l'ami qui savait redresser les faiblesses sans jamais nous froisser, le chef dynamique qui savait couvrir son énergie d'humour, sa fermeté de courtoisie et sa critique d'un sourire? Vous nous quittez maintenant, nous vous regrettons, mais vous serez toujours des nôtres, puisque vous nous avez aidés à rester nous-mêmes, vous serez toujours des nôtres puisque vous nous avez acheminés vors cette communauté atlantique qui est notre bien le plus précieux et notre idéal le plus souhaité. Au nom du Conseil, puisque l'ancienneté fait ds moi son porte-parole, je vous remercie pour les éminents services que vous avez rendus à notre cause et pour ceux que vous lui rendrez encore en lui restant toujours attaché,
DISCOURS PRONONCE PAR S.E. M. ALEXANDRE PARODI, REPRESENTANT PERMANENT DE LA FRANCE AUPRES DU CONSEIL DE L'ATLANTIQUE NORD Mon Général, Je m'adresse à vous au double titre qui me vaut de parler après M. de Staercke ; comme Représentant de mon pays, membre de l'Alliance Atlantique, et comme Représentant aussi du pays où est établi le siège de l'Alliance et celui de votre Commandement. J'ai mission de mon Gouvernement de vous exprimer la grande reconnaissance du peuple français pour les éminents services que vous avez rendus à la défense de l'Europe et du monde libre. Je salue en vous un ensemble très exceptionnel de très grandes qualités, car je ne sais s'il faut louer davantage en vous le soldat ou l'organisateur, où l'éminent diplomate. Vous avez été mêlé dès l'origine et plus que quiconque, comme Chef de l'Etat-. Major d'abord, et puis comme Commandant en Chef à la tâche compliquée de mettre sur pied ce Commandement international, ce SHAPE, dont le nom un peu mystérieux longtemps pour les pays de l'Europe est devenu le symbole même de notre défense commune. Et je veux ici associer tout de suite à 1'hommage que je vous rends celui qui est encore votre collaborateur aujourd'hui, qui sera votre successeur dans quelques jours, le Général Norstad. II fallait de grands efforts et de grands moyens personnels pour faire fonctionner avec harmonie et avec efficacité un Organisme composé de tant de pièces disparates. Le soldat que vous êtes, avec l'autorité des batailles et des victoires d'hier, l'organisateur que vous êtes, formé par les tâches de la dernière guerre, a réalisé ce difficile tour de force. Nous savons que nos diversités, nos susceptibilités de pays d'Europe ont exigé souvent de vous beaucoup de patience. Elle ne vous a jamais manqué parce que vous avez d'abord le grand don de vous intéresser aux hommes et de les comprendre, ce qui est je pense le secret de cette souriante, autant que ferme, diplomatie qui a rendu si amicale pour tous l'exercice de votre Commandement. Je crois ne pouvoir mieux m'exprimer ~ et c'est la forme à
donner à ce témoignage auquel je pense que vous serez le plus sensible
- qu'en disant que vous avez été le digne successeur du premier
Commandant en Chef, de celui qui a conduit les armées alliées à
la victoire et dont nous nous sommes réjouis d'apprendre, il y a quelques
jours, qu'il restait Président des Etats-Unis d'Amérique. Mon Général, vous avez été pendant tout votre Commandement particulièrement attentif aux problèmes souvent les plus difficiles qui ont été propres à mon pays. Soyez sûr que nous l'avons profondément ressenti et que vous allez nous quitter entouré du respect et de l'amité du peuple français.
DISCOURS PRONONCE PAR S.E. M..L.D. WILDRESS. REPRESENTANT REPRESENTANT DU CANADA AUPRES DU CONSEIL DE L'ATLANTIQUE NORD De tout coeur, Monsieur le Président, je m'associe à vos paroles ainsi qu'à celles de mes collègues. Monsieur de Staercke et Monsieur Parodi. Permettez-moi, Monsieur le Président, de dire maintenant quelques mots au Général Gruenther dans l'autre langue officielle de mon pays, langue qui est aussi celle de son pays. On behalf of the Canadian Government, General, I wish to-extend to you our most sincere thanks and appreciation for your magnificent contribution to NATO. During the period you served as Suprême Commander and before that as Chief of Staff, you have created in SHAPE an instrument which is not only effective for our security but which is aiso a splendid example of that spirit of cooperation which we are endeavouring to instil into all of our endeavours. It is with great regret that we are saying farewell to you but you carry with you our good wishes for the future and our deep gratitude for ail that you have done.
SPEECH MADE BY H.E. Mr. M. A. WASSARD, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF DENMARK TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL As my country's representative in NATO it comes first to my mind when saying goodbye to you to thank you for the inspiration which your visits to Denmark and your co-operation with the Danish Military Authorities have been to all those taking part in the build-up of the Danish defence within the framework of NATO. Your never-failing interest in our country's needs and your thorough under standing of the specific problems of each NATO country have been of the greatest value to Atlantic cooperation.I take this opportunity to bring you my personal thanks for your great kindness and wish you all the best for the future. SPEECH MADE BY Dr. HERBERT SCHWORBEL ON BEHALF OF THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF GERMANY TO THE. NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL Ambassador Blankenhorn who has been urgently called to Bonn has asked me to express to you his deepest regrets for being unable to say thank you, goodbye and Auf Wiedersehen to you today. It is therefore now my task to do so, not only in his name and on behalf of my Government, but also on behalf of all Germans for whom your name and your person have become a symbol for the common shield under whose protection, close to the border of the East, we can as free men pursue our work in peace. Your knowledge of the German problems and your comprehension for our particularly difficult situation and our preoccupations has been a great help to us. We wish you good luck and success for your new tasks and we express our thanks and our best wishes, we hope that you will not forget us.
DISCOURS PRONONCE PAR S.E. M. Michel MELAS REPRESENTANT PERMANENT DE LA GRECE AUPRES DU CONSEIL DE- L'ATLANTIQUE NORD Mon Général,
Je vous adresse au nom du Gouvernement Royal Hellénique nos remerciements les plus chaleureux pour le travail que-vous avez accompli ici et nos souhaits également chaleureux pour votre bonheur futur, et celui de Mrs Gruenther. Dire qu'un homme a'grandement contribué à assurer la sécurité des peuples de la région de l'Atlantique Nord, à défendre leur antique culture et surtout à défendre leurs convictions concernant le respect-de la dignité et de la liberté humaine n'est pas, certes, un mince compliment, c'est une constatation cependant à laquelle vous avez incontestablement droit et ceci me ^dispense, je crois, d'en dire plus long.
My dear General,
On behalf of the Icelandic people I wish to extend to you our appreciation
and gratitude for the invaluable role which you have played in building up the
defensive might of this Organization. To this task you have brought prodigious
energy, skill and powers of inspiration. We consider it a privilege to associate
ourselves wholeheartedly with the tribute which' so sincerely is being paid to
you in this Council today and our best wishes will follow you wherever you go.
DISCOURS PRONONCE PAR S.E.. M. ADOLFO ALESSANDRINI REPRESENTANT PERMANENT DE L'ITALIE AUPRES DU CONSEIL DE L'ATLANTIQUE NORD Mon Général, C'est avec une très vive émotion que je m'associe à mes honorables collègues du Conseil,'en vous adressant, au nom du Gouvernement italien, et en mon nom, un hommage sincère et dévoué. Cet hommage signifie avant tout, l'expression de ma reconnaissance pour 1'oeuvre admirable que vous avez accomplie afin de préparer, par un effort constant, et d'assurer, dans un clairvoyant esprit de vigilance, les moyens destinés à sauvegarder la liberté et les traditions que nos pères nous ont léguées, et que nous sommes fermement décidés à laisser, à notre tour, en héritage à nos enfants. Mon Général, votre oeuvre ne pourra pas être-outillée par les peuples dont vous avez servi la cause, d'une façon aussi digne'et noble. Car, non seulement vous avez été l'animateur de leur défense commune, mais aussi et surtout vous vous êtes donné en exemple d'homme possédant cette foi qui, "bien plus que les armes, représente le premier rempart de notre droit. Votre exemple nous est offert, à tous, et personne ne pourra jamais l'oublier. Pour ma part, en tant qu'Italien, je n'oublierai jamais Inattention particulière que vous avez toujours portée aux problèmes concernant mon pays, et aux voeux émis par mon peuple. En effet, l'Italie, sortie récemment d'une épreuve qui se classe parmi les plus dures do toute son histoire, en prenant place sur la ligne de défense consolidée par vos soins, veut offrir à la Communauté Atlantique le poids total de sa civilisation et de sa vitalité. Je vous adresse, mon Général l'expression personnelle de ma gratitude pour l'aide, la bienveillance et les conseils que, dans un très large esprit do compréhension, vous avez bien voulu m'accorder.
DISCOURS PRONONCE. PAR M. NICOLAS HOMMEL REPRESENTANT
PERMANENT DU LUXEMBOURG AUPRES DU CONSEIL DE L'ATLANTIQUE NORD Mon Général, Je ne sais pas, si en assumant votre fonction de Commandant Suprême, vous avez connu ce mot de Napoléon que "ce n'est qu'avec de la prudence, de la sagesse et beaucoup de dextérité que l'on parvient à de grands buts". Toujours est-il que ce sont ces qualités qui ont caractérisé votre activité et qui ont si largement contribué au succès de votre mission. Permettes-moi de vous dire, mon Général, que dès le début vous avez inspiré une solide confiance. Grâce d'abord à Votre'prudence déterminée par un sens profond de vos responsabilités, grâce ensuite à votre sagesse qui s'est manifestée par la lucidité de vos vues et l'objectivité de vos jugements. En ce qui concerne mon pays, cette sagesse s'est montrée sous une forme si sympathique, celle de la compréhension pour,la particularité des problèmes que pose à mon pays son effort militaire. Votre
dextérité et votre habileté sont tout aussi incontestables.
J'en vois la preuve dans le fait que malgré la difficulté des problèmes
que vous aviez à résoudre avec nos Gouvernements vous nous quittez
en ami regretté. Que n'a-t-il pas fallu de diplomatie et de sens politique
pour en arriver là. II m'est agréable enfin de vous dire que je garderai un profond souvenir de nos relations, tout empreintes d'égards et de sollicitude de votre part.
SPEECH MADE BY M. M.P. VIGEVENO DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OP THE NETHERLANDS TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL As Representative of the Netherlands I should, like to associate myself with the feelings of gratitude and appreciation already expressed for your great merits as Supreme Commander of the NATO forces in Europe. Besides your qualities as a military man it has been also,.and very much, your human qualities which have contributed to what you have been able to bring about. For the manner in which you have always held yourself ready for consultations regarding the problems of the Netherlands forces, the Netherlands authorities are very thankful indeed. All who on the Netherlands side have been in contact with you in the past years will gratefully remember your inspiring leadership. I should like to add
a word of personal thanks for the kindness which you have always shown to me whenever
I called on your precious time. May I conclude by wishing you, on behalf of my whole Delegation, the very best for your future.
SPEECH MADE BY H.E. Mr. JENS M. BOYESEN. PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF NORWAY TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL Dear General Gruenther, As the North Atlantic Council today bids you farewell, I want to express our sentiments in one word - gratitude. We thank you for all that you have done for NATO and all that you have done for Norway. We wish you good luck for the years to come.
SPEECH MADE BY H.E. COUNT DE TOVAR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF PORTUGAL TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL Now that you are leaving us, General, I too would like to say, on behalf of Portugal, how sorry we are to see you go. Your visits to Lisbon and the personal contacts.we have had with.you here at NATO, have contributed to the high' regard and real friendship we feel for you. We value highly the signal contribution made to our Organization by your merits as a soldier and your outstanding, leadership. And it is as your friends that we wish you every happiness in the future.
SPEECH MADE BY H.E. Mr. MEHMET ALI TINEY, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF TURKEY TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL My dear General, I had expressed the regrets of my Government as well as my own regrets at the time you had made the decision to relinquish the Supreme Command of Alliance in Europe. I wish to-repeat these regrets on this occasion when the North Atlantic Council has convened to bid you goodbye. The Atlantic Community is today in possession of a-reliable instrument of security thanks to the success of NATO in the organization and the realisation of a collective system of defence. The great part that you had in attaining this success cannot be forgotten. Your activities have not been consecrated only to the military aspect of NATO but have also and with equal brilliance been reflected on all problems concerning the Atlantic Alliance. This has been so because of your wide Knowledge of political and economic affairs in addition to your high qualities of a very able Commander. The most apparent characteristics of your relations with the Council as Supreme Commander have been your sincerity and your frankness. You did not ever hesitate to tell the truth even when the truth was bitter. Your opinions have always been constructive. As a result of your exceptional military qualities you have not only attracted the esteem and admiration of the Atlantic Community; you have also considered the peculiar circumstances and problems of each nation with great objectivity, you have "been subtle enough to appreciate national characteristics and in so doing gained their unbounded affection. My dear General, in conclusion, I wish to express to you my firm belief that your future activities will continue to servo the cause of the strengthening of world peace without which there can be no happiness or prosperity for any nation. My best wishes for Mrs. Gruenther's and your personal health and happiness will accompany you.
SPEECH MADE BY H.E. SIR CHRISTOPHER STEEL, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL Mr. Chairman, The United Kingdom Government with many of whose branches, and especially with whose Armed Forces General . Gruenther has been closely associated for so many years, cannot but regard his departure with trie most profound regret. We shall miss not only a Commander in whose judgment and character we have had implicit trust but also a pre-eminent exponent of my own profession who has rendered as much service to international understanding as he has to NATO's preparedness. He takes with him to what we all know will be nothing .like retirement the heartfelt thanks and good wishes of my country.
SPEECH MADE BY H.E. Mr. GEORGE W. PERKINS PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL General Gruenther,- I am sure I do not need at this point to express the appreciation of the United States Government for what you have done as Supreme Allied Commander. It was our Government which nominated you for that position. President Eisenhower, who attaches the highest importance to the post you have occupied, personally made the selection. What more can I say officially? But I do want to add a personal word. I have had the privilege of working with you since 1949. I then had many- dealings with you when you were Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army. Since then, I have had increasingly close contact with your career in Europe. There are many favorable adjectives I could apply to your success. But let me select only a few which seem to me to be the most important. You have always been open-minded, constructive and effective, and have exercised great qualities of leadership. Especially you have shown a loyalty to and understanding of NATO and what it stands for in the broadest sense and have done.your part entirely in this spirit. I
am sorry you are leaving. That sorrow'is lessened by the knowledge that General
Norstad is succeeding you. You have our best wishes for your continued success
and happiness. We are losing an associate but not losing a friend/because we know
your friendship and your devotion to what we all are striving for will never diminish.
LORD
ISMAY General, in case you don't understand, exactly what all the members of the Council said, you may know'that they were redolent with affection and admiration and gratitude; we are having the minutes of this meeting bound with a translation of those few languages with which you are not precisely familiar. Might I ask you, General, to address the Council?
GENERAL GRUENTHER There are few observations that I can make to you, for you have been studying this .problem so long and have such a broad grasp of it, but there are one or two that I feel very strongly about. As I see it, we face two dangers: One is that if-wo permit ourselves the luxury of a lack of unity, it may cause the Alliance to suffer strains, which it could not endure, and secondly, as a result of that, to cause the Soviets to miscalculate that lack of unity as a weakness ... and I would like to say they are not beyond miscalculation. Certainly they made a very bad miscalculation in the Korean affair, and the more I see of the Soviets, the-more I am convinced that they arc subject to errors. Certainly, when it comes to running a civilisation, they are still most inept, and do a great deal of bungling. They are masters when it comes to the art of devisive tactics, but when it comes to constructive efforts, making an organization or an economy run under difficult conditions, they are quite incapable of that and I think the events of the last few weeks have shown that to be true. Our problem, although difficult, is by no means unsolvable. I am certain that we can solve it, and the field in which I.have a great conviction that we can still make great progress, is in the field of public information. I have a certain amount of concern that the criticism that is now going on is going to undermine us to some extent, and we are going to have to do everything possible to prevent that. In my own case, I am due to arrive back in Washington at noon on Friday, 23rd November, and on Monday, the 25th, I am delivering one talk in Washington to a group of 500, and in New York that evening to a dinner group of 1,500. The following evening I go to Milwaukee. I am delivering nine talks between then and the llth of December. My theme is going to be that there is no better solution than an Alliance, that the United States needs Europe just as Europe needs the United States, and that it has a tremendous responsibility which must be carried out in the way of wisdom and understanding and a certain amount of Christian charity if it is to be a good partner in this Alliance, How successful I will be, in my own efforts to carry this message, I do not
know, but I feel that there is still a tremendous need for work in that direction. It is very popular now to talk about how NATO is falling apart. As we see the reports, I do feel that there is sometimes a certain amount of exaggeration and undue fear and misapprehension. Reference has been made here today to General Norstad and, of course, you all know him, and you know my own deep affection for him, I know he will receive the same support that I have always had. You have faith in him, and he has faith in you. I am sure that he is going to be a very successful Commander for you in this position. I shall continue to be interested in this vital project, and you may rest assured I shall give it every possible assistance that I can. I am going to follow your advice, Lord Ismay, and try to steal back here from time to time. I should like to say to you, Ambassador Parodi, that the excellent support-wo have always had from your, the host country, which has had to put up with many of our idiosyncrasies, has been generous indeed. We are deeply grateful. I leave with great regret. My association with you has always been of the finest and I shall be eternally grateful to each and every one of you. The job that you can do to continue and strengthen the vital role of the Council in steering the Alliance through the difficult times ahead is a very important one. In this endeavour, I wish you every possible success. Many, many thanks for this special session which I shall always remember. Thank you. Lord Ismay.
LORD ISMAY Having broken all the rules with that applause which comes from our hearts, the programme now is that we should go and bo photographed and then General Gruenther, at his own request, is going to address the Delegations and the rest of the International Staff, so this meeting is adjourned.
MEETING
WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE NATO INTERNATIONAL STAFF AND SECRETARIAT:
LORD ISMAY Members of the International Staff and of Delegations: This is a very sad day for NATO because we are gathered here to say "Goodbye" to a great American, a great.international servant,, a great soldier, a great statesman and the most Wonderful friend, General Gruenther.
GENERAL GRUENTHER Lord Ismay, Members of the Council, Ladies and Gentlemen: The decision to set up SHAPE Headquarters took place at Brussels on l8th December, 1950. Within a few hours after that decision was made, I came to Paris to start the work of selecting a staff in order to assist us in our planning. This is by way of telling you that I think that one of the great significant advances that we made was the development of a staff at SHAPE and to tell you how important I feel staff work is. Lord Ismay had extensive experience in this field during the war and I know when he came' here in 1952 that was also his first concern. Every time that I have discussed a problem with him, or referred one to him, his first reaction has always been: "Well, I shall see what my staff thinks of this." That is the reason why I feel that the contribution that you ladies and gentlemen have made is a significant one, and I want to express my gratitude to you. Although you are not our staff, we at SHAPE have always felt that our staff and the Palais de Chaillot staff and the staffs of the delegations are all one working together, You, of course, have seen the Organization develop, and you know that from those dark days in December 1950 until now we have made very great progress. That progress in fact has created new problems for us, because by the strength we have been able to build, both in form of military strength and also in the form of unity, we have stopped the advance in the centre, which has forced this attempt at a flank movement. We have not solved completely the flank movement threat yet, but I think it is well as we evaluate the progress we have made, to recognise that we have achieved very significant success.As you evaluate further our problems, I think it is always well to bear in mind that the Soviets have made the number one objective of their foreign policy to secure the dismemberment of NATO. That is a high compliment, and should, give our 450 million people considerable encouragement. Although we have problems to be solved, some of them serious ones, I have great confidence that we shall be able to solve them. I think that you, In addition to the very valuable staff contribution which you are able to make- -- and which you are making constantly - also have another field of action. That is in your daily lives among the. people that you meet. If you can express confidence in this organization as an-instrument of peace, you can help greatly. Our problem is to convince our 450 million people that there is no better solution than this Alliance, and that this Alliance can be and is an effective instrument for peace. The period ahead is undoubtedly going to be difficult, but if our people believe in it, wo can face this period with confidence. If they keep in mind our fundamental objective, that we have a'way of life to defend based on a religious concept, and a dedication to the dignity of the individual, I am sure we will succeed. As we review our aims and objectives, I think it is very very important that we keep in mind that the element of unity is based fundamentally on a common concept of liberty. , ft is in that field that we have our big difference with the Soviet Bloc, and we must insist that that issue be kept always in the forefront. It is the very basis of our unity. As you know, General Norstad is taking my place. He is known to most of you, but I can assure those of you who do not know him that you will find him a very very fine Supreme Commander. I have known him intimately for 15 years. The only criticism I have against him is that he's too young, but we are correcting that year by year. The other one I have is that he doesn't speak French as well as I do. But other than that, he is going to do a very very fine job. May
I take this opportunity to say farewell to you, to tell you that I have absolute
faith in this Organization and that I am confident that it will succeed. If it
can have the widespread support of folks such as you, there is no question but
that we shall prevent a Third World War from taking place, and more than hold
our own in the cold war now in progress. I hope to get an opportunity to come back here from time to time and to see you, but in any case, if I do not, I want you to know that I shall be thinking of you always and wishing you every possible success, in this very vital work in which you are engaged. I thank you, Lord Ismay, for having arranged this meeting, because I feel so strongly on this subject of the support of the International Staff, and how important you are to NATO, that I wanted to have the chance to tell you personally. Good luck to all of you and God bless you.
LORD ISMAY We will now take our honoured guest to the restaurant and he hopes that as many of you as possible will join us down there.
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