740.00119 Council/8–3046: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Secretary of State, in Paris
top secret
Washington, August 30,
1946—6 p.m.
4508. Secdel 791. I discussed with Judge Patterson39 and Acting Secretary of Navy Kenney this morning Gromyko’s statement to SC yesterday (unofficial translation being relayed to you separately)40 proposing that UN members report on their troops in foreign territories. We agreed as follows:
- 1.
- Purpose of Soviet proposal is obviously propaganda.
- 2.
- Best counter propaganda would be for our representative to state in SC when proposal comes up, possibly next Tuesday or Wednesday, that we see no objection in principle, that we have nothing to hide, but we feel basis should be broadened to include armed forces located in former enemy territories. We would then move that Soviet proposal be amended by striking out exception of former enemy territories.
- 3.
- If Soviet vetoed our amendment we would then feel free to veto their original proposal.
- 4.
- If Soviet accepted our amendment we would make all information called for available; reporting all combined U.S. forces in excess of 100.
- 5.
- With regard to bases referred to in section 2 of Soviet proposal we interpret meaning as calling for report from us only on eight 99–year lease bases plus Panama and Cuba.
We urge that you discuss foregoing with Bevin before making such a proposal in view of UK position in Greece and the Near East. If you approve proposed course of action we shall instruct Johnson in New York accordingly.
Acheson