320/8–2550: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom 1
1102. Re London’s 1215 Aug 25 and Paris 988 Aug 26. FYI and possible use in discussions FonOff re US three-part proposal for united action against aggression, fol is summary US–UK–Fr discussion this [Page 325] matter held NY Aug 28 with Jebb and Chauvel, spokesmen for UK and Fr and Asst Secy Hickerson for US:
[Here follows paragraph 5 (pages 4, 5, 6, 7) of telegram 386 from New York, August 28, which is scheduled for publication in volume III. Summarizing, neither Chauvel nor Jebb had instructions yet from their governments and could speak only in a preliminary way. Chauvel was persistent in seeing the United States program as converting the United Nations into “an apparent anti-Comintern [ Cominform ] alliance”; it would be better to effect such a grouping outside the United Nations. Hickerson discussed the American view along lines stated by him to Mr. Gerald Meade of the British Embassy on August 25 (see footnote 1 to telegram 1215, supra). Both Chauvel and Jebb expressed concern regarding the proposal to designate United Nations units within national military forces and to appoint a United Nations Coordinator (see Part C of State Department Position Paper of Sepember 1, entitled “A Program of United Nations Action To Stop Aggression”, page 327). Hickerson sought to make clear that there was no military commitment for automatic action; and there was agreement to consider language changes to make this clear. Hickerson gave assurance that there was no intention to set aside Article 43 of the Charter and the machinery of the Military Staff Committee (MSC) of the Security Council and that the military section of the United States proposals was a “purely interim measure.”]
- Repeated to the American Embassy, Paris as 1041.↩