501.BE/1–1849

The Department of State to the British Embassy 1

secret

Aide-Mémoire

The Department of State has considered the Aide-Mémoire dated January 18, 1949, which was left with Mr. Llewellyn Thompson, Deputy Director of the Office of European Affairs, by Mr. Denis Allen of the British Embassy.

The Department is sympathetic with the objective, outlined in the Aide-Mémoire, of seeking means to combat effectively the forms of [Page 346] propaganda used by the Soviet Union in the Trusteeship Council, and the Department has instructed the United States Representative in the Council, having this end in view, to consult with the Representative of the United Kingdom and with Representatives of other administering and non-administering powers which are likely to share our purposes. The Department is preparing background material of the general nature described in paragaph 7 of the Aide-Mémoire for use by the United States Representative in the Trusteeship Council.

As the Department views this problem, it should be a relatively simple task to demonstrate the insincerity of immoderate Soviet proposals, such as were made last Summer in the Third Session of the Council. It is more difficult to deal with proposals which are couched in terms giving them a semblance of reasonableness. Some of these may have the form, and some even the substance, of genuinely progressive proposals in the trusteeship field. In such cases the United States, following its traditionally liberal policy with respect to non-self-governing territories, and considering each proposal on its merits, would not oppose those measures which may be found to be reasonable and progressive.

It is recognized, however, that in view of the motives which are known to underlie Soviet objectives in introducing such proposals, efforts should be made to ensure that the USSR does not thereby obtain credit for appearing as a champion of the welfare of non-self-governing peoples. The best method of achieving that aim on a case basis as such situations arise might well be the subject of consultations between our respective representatives on the Trusteeship Council and with other representatives on the Council, including those of the more reasonably-minded non-administering states. The Department wishes to suggest, however, that over a period of time perhaps the only completely effective method of achieving this end, without attempting merely to outbid the Soviets, is for the administering powers themselves to pursue policies and make sound proposals of this type on their own initiative.2

The Department believes that the objective of effectively countering and neutralizing Soviet propaganda in the Trusteeship Council will also be furthered if the Representatives of the administering states will consider favorably constructive proposals advanced by the other administering and non-administering states with a view to strengthening the trusteeship system and improving conditions in trust territories. The United States Representative in the Trusteeship Council [Page 347] is being instructed to assure the Representatives of the other member states that the United States will pursue such a policy.

The Department appreciates that it is not the intention of the British Government to suggest curtailment of constructive observation and criticism in the Trusteeship Council, and the Department reciprocates the sentiments expressed in the Aide-Mémoire concerning the value of close cooperation between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States in these matters.

  1. Handed to Mr. Allen by Mr. Thompson, February 17.
  2. In an earlier draft the following sentence appeared, but was struck out: “This is the practice which the United States Government has endeavored to follow and which it hopes the other administering states will follow.” (501.BE/1–1849).