740.00119 Council/4–548: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
us urgent
1195. For the Ambassador eyes only from Lovett and Hickerson. Hope to clear with President tomorrow.1 No further soundings taken as yet (your 1360 Apr 5).2
Only substantive changes in paper3 since Jebb left are: (1) bringing para concerning declaration into line with paras b and c on proposed agreement by providing explicitly for individual determination of attack and measures to be taken; and (2) limiting military conversations with Five Powers initially to coordination of production and supply. The nakedness which bothered you is better clothed.
Have had exploratory talk with Spaak without ref to past or future conversations. Spaak attaches great importance to establishment this week of Five Power Secretariat and to military conversations anticipated for next week in London. He believes Brit reluctant to integrate Five Power Treaty too tightly for fear displeasing us. Tell Bevin that [Page 79] on the contrary more tightly Five Power Treaty can be implemented better we will like it. [Lovett and Hickerson.]
- Lovett is apparently referring here to his hope to clear with the President on April 7 a revised statement on Western Union designated as Policy Planning Staff paper PPS 27/1. This report had developed out of a blending of the contents of PPS 27 of March 23 (p. 61) and the undated working paper (p. 72) referred to in the minutes of the sixth meeting of the security talks on April 1. The revision and combination of these two, adapted to the format of the PPS report, was discussed by Hickerson, Henderson, Rusk, Achilles, Butler and Lovett on the morning of April 6. Final alterations were made and the paper was returned to Lovett by Butler that afternoon (memo dated April 6, not printed: 840.00/4–648). Records found in the Department of State files do not indicate whether Lovett was able to clear the paper with the President. On April 9, Lovett forwarded this latest draft, designated PPS 27/1 and dated April 6, 1948, to the National Security Council as a working paper in the Department on which neither he nor the Secretary had taken a position (letter, Lovett to Souers, not printed: 840.00/4–648). PPS 27/1 not printed: 840.20/4–648.↩
- In telegram 1360, not printed, Douglas requested from Hickerson the latest information on developments proceeding from the Washington discussions in preparation for a meeting with Bevin who was anxious to talk with him on the subject (740.00119 Council/4–548).↩
- Presumably the undated paper printed as an enclosure, p. 72.↩