320/9–150: Telegram

The Chargé in the United Kingdom ( Holmes ) to the Secretary of State

secret

1334. Deptel 1117, August 30. Department’s views as expressed reftel made known to Foreign Office this morning.

Off-the-cuff reaction was that while UK in general found US views unexceptionable, there was little essentially new in Department’s plan. UK would still prefer GA assembled without fanfare in order avoid [Page 327] unnecessarily annoying USSR and perhaps other nations as well. UK position, it was felt, would be shared by other friendly nations including Benelux group.1

Embassy hopes discuss matter with Foreign Office in greater detail near future.

Holmes
  1. In his despatch No. 624, September 11, the Ambassador in France (Bruce) reported in some detail the reaction of the French Foreign Ministry to the legal argumentation set forth in the Department’s telegram of August 30. The French position at that point seemed to be that whereas the U.S. proposals were probably not in conflict with Article 12 of the Charter, “they are likely to be considered, in conflict with the spirit of Article 11 which is deemed to have been designed to limit the GA’s possibilities of independent action.” (320/9–1150)