740.00119 Control (Korea)/6–747: Telegram
The Political Adviser in Korea (Langdon) to the Secretary of State
priority
144. Summary of 31st meeting Joint Commission, June 6, General Brown presiding, follows:
Order of consultation with parties was only question taken up. Subcommission reported progress made in resolving differences between two sides, including Soviet’s acceptance of the American position that published conditions of consultation would include Chistiakov’s proposals of November 26 as well as Hodge’s amendments of December 24. It also reported inability to reconcile positions on broad general consultation notwithstanding earlier Soviet agreement to that principle. Soviets in Subcommission had been refusing to put this principle in specific language, avoiding mandatory terms with respect to oral consultation of general application. After some opposition to our proposal to set criteria for oral consultation (tentative membership of 5,000), Soviets agreed to our alternate proposal that all parties signing the declaration in communiqué number 5 would be invited for oral consultation with Joint Commission Committees. The meeting adjourned with instructions to Subcommission to draw up the final agreement on consultation for the Commission’s approval June 7. Text will be quoted to the Department when approved.