SPA Files
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Elwood N. Thompson of the Office of Special Political Affairs
After the conversation with Mr. Joseph Johnson and Mr. William Sanders in New York, reported in my memorandum of conversation [Page 1046] of 11:30 A.M., same elate,8 I arranged for Mr. Acheson to receive an advance copy of telegram 843 of November 23 regarding the troop question. This telegram reports the Delegation position as of November 23 and contains also a revised US draft on the subject of troops.
I suggested that the position of US Del stated in telegram 843, and as outlined by Messrs. J. Johnson and Sanders in my earlier conversation with them, linked the troop reporting proposal rather closely to disarmament whereas I had understood the Department’s position was to keep these issues separate. I also pointed out the omission of the previously held U.S. view that reports on troops need not cover countries where less than 100 foreign troops are stationed.
Mr. Acheson telephoned the Secretary in New York to discuss these and related issues raised by telegram 843. Mr. Acheson learned that the Secretary had talked directly with Senator Austin, Senator Connally, and other members of the Delegation, and there would be no unilateral disclosure of US troops stationed in other countries as recommended by the Delegation in the telegram of November 23.
The Secretary told Mr. Acheson that Senator Connally might indicate to the Committee on Monday9 that the US does favor prompt disclosure of troops and believes that the US or any other country could report within thirty days after a GA resolution on the subject was adopted. The Secretary also indicated that Senator Connally might use the substance of the three points stated in the draft US resolution contained in Telegram 843 of November 23 when stating the US position on Monday.
Mr. Acheson had told the Secretary of his concern that the Delegation was omitting that part of our former position which would preclude the necessity of reporting on troops where less than 100 were stationed. Mr. Acheson pointed out that this might even include posts where there were military attachés and that would mean reporting on troops in nearly every country in the world. Mr. Acheson said the Secretary shared his concern and that the Secretary said he would indicate to Senator Connally that the US should not drop this part of its position.
Mr. Acheson also expressed to the Secretary his concern that the Delegation in its draft resolution was linking the subject of disarmament too closely with the question of reporting on troops. The Secretary had said that there was discussion of a new resolution containing two parts, one concerned with reporting on troops and the other concerned with disarmament, inspection, etc. The Secretary had felt that part 2 would take care of the US desire that the subject of reporting on troops should not be confused with disarmament proposals.
[Page 1047]Mr. Acheson suggested that we should in addition telephone the New York Delegation emphasizing our concern that the question of reporting on troops was being too closely linked to disarmament and also that the Secretary and Mr. Acheson had agreed that we should continue to maintain our point that there was no necessity to report on troops where less than 100 were concerned. With respect to the latter, Mr. Acheson said that he thought such a provision should actually appear in any resolution adopted or, at a minimum, the US should make clear in its public statements in Committee 1 that this was an accepted interpretation of any resolution that may be adopted.
Mr. Acheson also hoped that the Department would receive additional texts of proposed resolutions on the troop and disarmament questions as soon as they were formulated in New York, and suggested further that we obtain from the Delegation their understanding of the agreements reached in their conversation today with the Secretary.
Mr. Hiss subsequently talked with Mr. Ross in New York concerning the above points and again on Sunday to Mr. Acheson. These conversations are reported in separate memoranda.10