790.5/10–1250: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin)1
387. For Hickerson from Rusk. Suggest that with ref FonMin Spender’s expressed desire receive prompt answer on Pacific Pact from US you might wish seek opportunity discuss this matter informally with him in order ascertain more specifically what he has in mind.2 It shld be clear that formulation any plan with such vast [Page 149] implications as this one cannot be accomplished speedily. As example Spender shld recall length of time taken bring about North Atlantic Treaty.
As stated previously Dept open-minded on this subject but aware tremendous difficulties which must be overcome before any arrangements such as Pacific Pact cld be consummated. While no US position on Pacific Pact has been established, see no reason why you should not indicate our general sympathy with efforts non-Commie states to form regional associations (as expressed NSC 48/2). We have not felt US should take leadership in attempting organize such groupings particularly in view problems which naturally arise, such as possible misunderstanding US motives, varying conceptions and aims of states which might be concerned, and choice of members. Latter leads to complications to which Dept does not have answers, such as Pacific vs Asian association, inclusion or exclusion India, Nationalist China, France, Netherlands, Latin American west coast states, etc.
We shld be very grateful for Spender’s considered views on these problems, and for an exposition from him of Australia’s conception of a Pacific Pact, its membership, objectives, form of organization, and method of bringing it into being. You may wish to discuss with him whether type of pact he envisages might be correlated with implementation of any GA resolution on UN Action for Peace.
In general suggest you listen to what Spender has to say and on basis this discussion Dept can proceed further with study this question. [Rusk.]
- Repeated to Canberra as telegram 91.↩
- In a memorandum of October 7, not printed, John C. Ross, Deputy United States Representative on the Security Council and Alternate Member of the United States Delegation to the General Assembly, informed Assistant Secretary Rusk that Spender was returning to Australia within a week or 10 days and wanted a definitive indication of United States views regarding a Pacific Pact before he departed (790.5/10–750).↩