47. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Department of State 1
Dulte 39. I raised with Macmillan question of Commonwealth forces in Korea and pled with him not to cut down forces anymore than was absolutely necessary. While recognizing British desire to get ahead with organizing defense of Malaya I pointed out effect on other U.N. powers of substantial reduction of Commonwealth forces in Korea.
Macmillan replied concept of maintaining Commonwealth brigade group no longer made sense now that Canadians had gone and Australians had made it clear that they wished to redeploy their battalion. He mentioned importance of Menzies’ efforts to change Australian policy so that it would be accepted fact that Australian units could be deployed outside of Australia in peacetime. In light of present circumstances U.K. military felt strongly it did not make sense to try to maintain full brigade group headquarters when there was going to be only one battalion and they were anxious to redeploy certain elements of brigade headquarters and supporting elements elsewhere.
He said however he understood our problem and “would try his level best by a bit of showmanship” to make Commonwealth forces look as substantial as possible. He promised to speak to Field Marshal Harding2 about this. While U.K. are sympathetic our problem I am convinced in my own mind that there is no way we can prevent them from reducing Commonwealth forces in Korea to something just short of a battalion which I think they will make earnest effort [Page 92] to portray as being more than a battalion by calling it combat group or some such name.