501.BC Armaments/10–1148: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
niact
priority
Delga 278. Personal to Lovett from Rusk. Reference Gadel 1471 and 167.2 USDel has made every effort to obtain postponement at least 24 hours any action by Committee 1 on disarmament and will [Page 466] make no speech thereon without instructions. Hope to succeed. Department should bear in mind, however, that we cannot control parliamentary situation, that few governments wish to speak on this subject, and that great confusion will arise from apparent lack of harmony among US, UK and other leading members CCA. Inability of USDel to take firm stand on matter which has been under consideration for 2 years will be difficult for others to understand.3
Delegation has had no intimation since Gadel 147 of October 7 what possible lines Department might have in view for “more affirmative response to Soviet proposals”. In absence such lead, delegation has been compelled in informal contacts to proceed along lines long-standing US policy taken in CCA and elsewhere. If Department is considering major change in such policy, it must be recalled that we have been working with considerable number other delegations during past year and major shift at this late hour which has not been carefully concerted would create considerable confusion and resentment. Further, splintering of western powers would play directly into Soviet hands on issue selected by Soviets as their principal propaganda effort this Assembly. [Rusk.]
- Ante, p. 450.↩
- For text, see footnote 2, p. 459.↩
- The file copy bears the
following marginal comment by Robert M. McClintock, Special Assistant to
the Director of the Office of United Nations Affairs:
“Mr. Rusk [was] telephoned at 9:35 a. m., Oct. 11 and told to go ahead with speech. Telegram sent 11:10 a. m. giving Secretary’s suggestions.” The telegram, Gadel 168, is printed infra.
↩