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

7. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Korea ¹

Washington , January 27, 1955—6:23 p.m.

478. Seoul’s 828 repeated Tokyo 564 Stockholm 13 Bern 15.² Swiss and Swedes delivered Aide-Mémoire January 27³ U.S. and Peiping. Referred to notes April 14, 1954,⁴ emphasized concern over failure find solution Korean problem permitting termination NNSC functions, stated difficulties and cost obtaining qualified personnel for NNITs and suggested expense disproportional limited possibilities supervision and results expected therefrom.

Both governments indicate preference signatories Armistice terminate activities NNSC. Suggest as alternative sizeable reduction personnel 4 delegations. Indicate prepared transmit interested governments practical proposals for reduction personnel.

ROK Embassy informed receipt above notes and cautioned not connect any way with tripartite approach behalf 16.⁵ Hope ROK Government can be persuaded handle matter with great discretion in order minimize adverse Communist propaganda and permit us take next steps more readily. Department not giving notes contents to press. Swedish press statement indicates Swiss and Swedish Governments made renewed representations American and Peiping Governments respectively (earlier representations made in April 1954) with view obtaining reappraisal their membership on NNSC. In addition they gave substance Aide-Mémoire to press. Copies Aide-Mémoire being pouched.⁶

Dulles

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795.00/1–2755. Secret. Drafted by Jones, cleared with IO and EUR, and approved by McClurkin. Repeated to Bern, Stockholm, London, Paris, Tokyo, Warsaw, and Prague.
2. In telegram 828 from Seoul, January 27, Ambassador Briggs suggested that the Republic of Korea should be informed as quickly as possible about the notes being delivered in Washington by the Swiss and the Swedes. (Ibid.)
3. Copies of the aides-mémoire are attached to a combined memorandum of conversation by McClurkin covering the visits to the Department on January 27 of Felix Schnyder, Counselor of the Swiss Legation; Count C. L. Douglas, Minister of the Swedish Embassy; and Philip Han, Minister of the Korean Embassy. (Ibid.)
4. In notes delivered to the Department of State on April 14, 1954, the Swiss and Swedish Governments stated that if the Geneva Conference failed to produce a political settlement of the Korean conflict, thus creating the possibility that the functions of the NNSC would be prolonged indefinitely, the two governments would have to reconsider the question of their continued participation. (Ibid., 795.00/4–1454)
5. The memorandum by McClurkin, cited in footnote 3 above, covers this conversation with Korean Minister Han.
6. At the Embassy’s request, the Department transmitted the text of the Swedish aide-mémoire in telegram 484 to Seoul, January 28, rather than by pouch. (Department of State, Central Files, 795.00/1–2855)