Office of the Historian

740.00/7–1050: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom 1

secret
Washington, August 8, 1950—6 p. m.

702. Embtel 181, July 10.2 Dept notes and considers appropriate Council of Europe decision Aug 3 that admission Aust membership presently premature. We are not inclined however, attempt strongly influence Aust Govt action this matter since Aust must live with consequences membership and in best position weigh pros and cons results. Believe principal gains not material but rather psychological in direction unity with West which already secured by membership OEEC and well known to all. On other hand adverse consequences not in Western hands and so not calculable but conceivably cld outweigh benefits. Consider important that if and when Aust and Council shld deem membership advisable no move shld be taken unless sure consummation wld be prompt.

Acheson
  1. Repeated to Paris as 711, to Vienna as 218, to Moscow as 106, and to Frankfort as 1047.↩
  2. Not printed.↩