500.A15A4 Permanent Disarmament Commission/32: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the American Delegate (Wilson)
258. Your 448, November 12, 1 p.m., and 449, November 12, 3 p.m., re chemical warfare. Insofar as possible endeavor to restrict the provisions of the report relating to violations, sanctions, et cetera, to European States. Our whole policy should be to avoid being drawn into the “inner concentric circle” of the French project with its elaborate organization, rules and plans for joint action.
If necessary to take a definite stand on the text submitted in your 448, you should be guided by the following general considerations:
Paragraph (1) Acceptable.
Paragraph (2) Subparagraph 1. Consultation among third States on the implications of a situation, the facts of which have already been established, can be accepted.
Subparagraph 2. In general, we oppose the principle of balloting under the circumstances described. The last clause providing that the minority “shall be under an obligation not to hinder the action of the majority” would not only bind us in respect to a situation which might arise in the future but leaves the scope of the situation undefined. It in effect asks us to sign a blank check, and deprives us of independent decision, and is thus at variance with our policies.
Subparagraph 3. This gives far more power to the Permanent Disarmament Commission than we had anticipated or would welcome.
Paragraph (3). No comment as this clearly applies to Europe only.
Paragraph (4). See second paragraph my telegram 242, November 12, 5 p.m.