Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Korea, Volume XXIII, Part 2

138. Telegram From the Embassy in Switzerland to the Department of State ¹

Bern , May 1, 1956—10 a.m.

1162. Because of misunderstanding connected with request for appointment first made Saturday morning, saw Petitpierre and Zehnder together 6 am April 30. Explained that consultations among sixteen on reply to Communist Chinese note were in progress and we hoped Swiss would give us advance notice any contemplated action on NNSC (Deptel 1879, April 26).²

Petitpierre replied Swiss Minister Peking had been given copy Chinese note to be regarded as reply to Swiss approach (Embtel 884, February 17).³ He continued Swiss intend indicate

(1) That proposal for conference is matter outside competence of Swiss,

(2) That although Swiss not satisfied with reduction of fixed teams to one in north and one in south, will agree on practical grounds as it is in line with desire of Swiss to reduce NNSC activities, but

(3) Swiss reserve right to reopen consideration of problem.

I pointed out reduction no solution from United States point of view and had disadvantages described in Deptel 1879.

Arguments failed sway Petitpierre, although he and Zehnder fully cognizant our difficulties. He stated further reduction would be in line with previous efforts of Swiss. Swiss, as they indicated two years ago, would like to have their task in NNSC terminated but they were not prepared to wreck armistice (faire sauter l’armistice) by withdrawing from commission or stipulating that if fixed teams not abolished or stationed in demilitarized zones, Swiss would withdraw. He appeared convinced that accepting proposal to reduce fixed teams to one in north and one in south would constitute further step in direction Swiss seeking proceed.

Petitpierre indicated information conveyed to me would probably be given Communists first through diplomatic channels.⁴ Details of reduction would require later discussion in NNSC and unless acceptable to MAC reduction presumably could not be implemented.

Willis

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795.00/5–156. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Stockholm, Seoul, and Tokyo.
2. Printed as telegram 1145 to Stockholm, Document 135.
3. In telegram 884 from Bern, the Embassy reported that the Swiss had delivered an aide-mémoire relating to the NNSC to the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Peking. Zehnder told Willis that the Swiss note was firm in tone, but he did not expect a reply until March. (Department of State, Central Files, 795.00/2–1755)
4. In telegram 1169 from Bern, May 1, Willis reported that Petitpierre was willing, in light of the conversation reported in telegram 1162, to delay instructions to the Swiss Minister in Beijing for a week or 10 days. (Ibid., 795.00/5–156)