ORIGINAL; SNCLISH NATO CONFIDENTIAL 15th December, 1959 PO/59/1 £62

To: Permanent Representatives

From: Secretary General

Release of Jerauld Wright as Atlantic

References: C-M(5A)l4 MC 58

I have received the attached letter from the United States Permanent Representative containing the text of a message from President Eisenhower on the subject of the release of Admiral Jerauld Yvright as Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic,

(Signed) P.-H. SPAAK DECLASSIFIED - PUBLIC DISCLOSURE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MISE EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE LECTURE EN - MISE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ DISCLOSURE - PUBLIC DECLASSIFIED NATO OOITPI DENTXAL P0/59/16 j'c2

15th December, 1959

Dear Mr. President:

I have heen asked to deliver to you a message from President Eisenhower concerning the desire of Admiral Jerauld Wright, , to "be released from his assignment of Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, on 29th February, i960. I would hope that you would be able to present this matter to the Council at its meeting on Thursday, 17th December.

The text of President Eisenhovrer's message to you reads as follows:

"Athens, Greece, li|th December

"His Excellency Paul Henri Spaak, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Paris, France

"Dear Mr. Spaak;

I am addressing you as Chairman of the Permanent Council with the request that appropriate action be taken at an early date to obtain the release of Admiral Jerauld Wright, United States Navy, on 29th February, i960, from his assignment as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic. Admiral Wright has requested retirement from the active list of the United States Navy on Ist March, i960. In making this request through you to the member nations who appointed him, I ask that they give favorable consideration to his release.

"The full trust and confidence extended by all nations to Admiral Wright during his tenure as Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, will, I am certain, continue with the assumption of these responsibilities by another commander.

"If the Council approves the release of Admiral Wright, the United States is prepared to nominate to the Council a well qualified successor in accordance with the Supreme Allied Command, Atlantic, revised terms DECLASSIFIED - PUBLIC DISCLOSURE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MISE EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE LECTURE EN - MISE / DÉCLASSIFIÉ DISCLOSURE - PUBLIC DECLASSIFIED of reference (MC 58)

Sincerely, "»

/s/ Dwight D. Eisenhower 11

May I take this opportunity, on the opening day of our Ministerial session, to express again my confidence in your own leadership. Sincere!Ô * ?

(Signed) W9 Randolph Burgess