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M f c ^ * * i • / v é V^' POBLIO JNFÔ§»(fâÉOT DT^^ SJPRQFFI HKAJXJJ ARTERS JUXIEC POWERS E3JR CEE 30 July 1553 MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SDBJSCTt Flanning Incident to the Departure of General Bidgvay from SHAPE. 1. Baekgroundt a. Planning for the turnover ceremony and attendant activities connected with General BidgtraytB departure was started in late May 1953, in anticipation of General Ridgway1s departure, then scheduled for 17 July* The initial draft operational plan for the ceremony was prepared in PID and then submitted for discussion to Ebc.NMR for NlilRsf Headquarters Ccramand, including its subordinate agencies, and Secretariat. b. At a coordination meeting held in the office of Ex.NMR early in June, the general details of the plan were agreed upon and submitted to the Chief of Staff» who approved the plan in broad outline during one of General Ridgway's absences 011 his farewell tours of NATO countries. The operational plan in its first foxm is attached as Tab aDa. It should be noted that for a ceremony involving international troops all details should be published in both French and English. 2. Narrative of Staff Coordination; PID was the responsible ageosy for the coordination of details connected with the turnover ceremony and other public functions incident to General Ridgway's departure. Closest coordination was mainatained with the Secretariat, Ex.NMR and HQ, Command. Buring tbe week preceding the ceremony daily meetings were held involving planning officers of each of these division. 3. Invitationsi a. General Ridgway's original plan was to leave on 17 July* but •n f duo to the fact that he wfld ro^uirdd to Îïô IJEI Washington for conf0r6DOds (/-^before assuming his post as Chief of Staff, USA, he found it necessary to ^^•Äiove his departure time up to 11 July. At the time this decision was made, the guest list for the ceremony had not yet been submitted to the Chief of Staff for final approval, nor had formal engraved invitations been prepared. b. On 30 June, the Chief of Public Information submitted to the Chief of Staff a recommended distinguished guest list, including high officials of the French Republic, NATO, including the Secretary General, the Standing Group Liaison Officer and the six subordinate commanders-in-chief of SHAPE, DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY - DÉCLASSIFIÉ MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE (see Tab mCm). It should be noted that the French NMR recommended against inviting the President of the Republic, primarily because the whole nature of the ceremony would have to be revised to provide the proper honours for the 16 AiW , CA WS. 13» r. President. In future turnover ceremonies, the question of inviting the President of France and then tailoring the ceremony to fit his attendance should be determined veil in advance of tbe occasion* i c. In addition to the original recommended guest list, Ambassador Bruce expressed a desire to be included as a guest and after coordination with Ei.NMR (see Tab "Gi ) he was invited. General des Essars« NMR France, suggested also that high military staff officers of France be invited. This suggestion vas also coordinated with Ex.NMR and the invitations extended. d. Invitaticas were handled in the following mannen (1) Ex.NMR extended invitations to NATO, SGLO and Ambassador Bruce, Secretariat monitoring the acceptances. (2) French NMR extended invitâticd3 to French governmental officials, PID monitoring the acceptances. (3) PID drafted and secured approval on an invitation telegram to subordinate Commanders and the Secretariat informed PID of the receipt of acknowledgements. It should be noted in this respect that PXD followed up these invitations with telephone calls to certain individuals who did not acknowledge their invitations by 48 hours in advance of the ceremony. Eventually all subordinate commanders» with the exception of Admiral Mountbattenf who was involved in Manoeuvres, attended. PID also followed up through French NMR the acceptances from the French guest list. e. General Ridgway approved cocktails for the distinguished giests following the ceremony, but did not approve a luncheon because of the extreme press of business during his last few days in SiAPE. While the wives of the distinguished visitors were not specifically invited, the Chief of Staff directed that they be made welcome. 4* VIP Seatingt As PID received final acceptances, Ex.NMR prepared a seating chaTt for the distinguished visitors, with civilian dignitaries seated at the left of the reviewing stand and military guests, including the subordinate commanders, seated at the right. A request for twelve ushers, junior in renk and preferably bilingual» was made by PID to DCLA, who delegated Uie responsibility for the selection of the officers to AG (see Tab "E" ). These cf fleers were briefed on the day preceding the ceremony and escorted the guests to their proper places, working frcm a seating chart placed 001 the TIP reception desk at the entrance to "C" corridor. A few extra seats were on hand to take care of aides or others who might turn up unexpectedly. 5» HQ, Ccmmand Responsibilitlesi 1¾ Conmand assumed responsibility for the following major actions connected with the ceremony) a. Selection, placing and rehearsal of troop contingents and colour parties. It should be noted that FID requested AG through Ex.NMR to DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY - DÉCLASSIFIÉ MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE provide nationals of the various KATO countries to carry their respective national colours during the ceremony (see Tab "A"). e . f* b. Policing and preparation of ceremony site» including roping and erecting of speakers' stand and national flags fronting it. c. Security were responsible for traffic control, parking and spectator control. d. Signals Officer was responsible for the erection and testing of PA system and placing of microphones. 6. Behearsalsi Rehearsals were scheduled three days previous to the ceremony, with a dress rehearsal the day before the ceremony. 7* Freaçh Bandi The services of the 1er RIC French band were secured by a request from PID through Ex .NMR to the French NMR, which participated in the first and dress rehearsals. Due to the language difficulty, a bilingual French officer from PID was stationed in a prominent position on the front steps to signal the band at the cues of the commands in English from Colonel Wethereil» the parade conmander (see Tab "B"). 8. Flags; a. The Chief of Staff, upon recommendation from PID, approved the expenditure of approximately $200 for the purchase of standard flags from each of the NATO countries, staffs and harnesses» plus an additional SHAPE flag which was presented to General Ridgway during the ceremony as a departure gift* These national flags are available for future ceremonies of a similar type. b. In this connection, immediately following the first rehearsal, U.K. NMR raised the point that it was highly irregular from a national view- point to use the Union Jack in any ceremony involving any suggestion that it was being paraded before troops. After this point was raised, Ex.NMR requested specific concurrence from each of the national governments for the use of the ir national standards in this particular ceremony (see Tab NF"). Each of the nationals concurred» including the U.K.» with the reservation that in no case should the colour parties be referred to as a colour guard, inasmuch as Queen's Regulations provide that the Uniax Jack will be paraded with troops only when escorted by an armed guard, plus an officer 'carrying the colours* Subsequently there was no official adverse reaction to the use of the Union Jack in this matter, but any use of national colours, regardless of the international status of SHAPE, should be coordinated well in advance of any contemplated ceremony. 9« Day of the Ceremony; The ceremony went off according to plan. The troops were in formation for nearly an hour and a half on a rather warm day. HQ, Ccomand had provided a first-aid truck and a medical officer, who treated approximately 10 individuals who fell out or fainted due to exhaustion. In future ceremonies, it would be advisable to plan to bring in the troops at the latest practicable moment and also to have at least two medical officers on duty. DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY - DÉCLASSIFIÉ MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE I C 10. Conc^Luaiom In ceremonies.of this type it is well to have fira decisions well in advance on the following points: a. Flag protocol. b. Guest list. c. Any social matters involving the distinguished guests. d. Preparaticn and fixing of responsibility for the extension of invitations. CHARLES J. ARJQJJD UT. Col. "USA Chief« Plans & Public Affairs DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY - DÉCLASSIFIÉ MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE c- r IHDBX \ CHAHCE OF GOIWAWP HTgtEMCNT 11 July (Numbera marked on papers In red, bottom right-hand corner) Ho, Giftet Date 1. Uemo to EriJMRt COPI, HQ, Cd. 22 May (Responsibilities in Planning Activities for Change of Command) 2. BeectBBiended Timetable of Events* 3. HQ, Cosmand - Administrative Plan. k. Memo to AO' from COIPl. lé June A (Bequest for personnel for colour parties) 5. Msmo to French NMR, thru ExNMR, from COPI. lé June B (Bequest for French band) 6. Memo to C/S from COPI. 30 June C (Suggested distinguished guest list) 7. First Administrative Plan. 1 July 8:, First Operational Plan (English and French). 1 July Memo to C/S from COPI. 1 July (Attached draft invitation to subordinate commanders) 10. Memo to COPI from Secretariat. 1 July (Suggestion for Central File record of planning for ceremony) IX. Memo to C/S from CoI.Eaton. 1 July (invitation list, press conference, Orly departure) 12.

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