795.00/12–1450
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Officer in Charge of Korean Affairs (Emmons)
Subject: Exchange of Correspondence Between Foreign Minister Pearson of Canada and Prime Minister Nehru of India Concerning Settlement of the Korean Conflict.1
| Participants: | Mr. Peter R. G. Campbell, Second Secretary, Canadian Embassy |
| Mr. Arthur B. Emmons, 3rd—Officer in Charge of Korean Affairs |
Mr. Peter R. G. Campbell called upon me this afternoon at three o’clock by prior appointment. He indicated that the purpose of his visit was to inform the Department of an exchange of top secret correspondence which had recently taken place between the Foreign Minister of Canada and the Prime Minister of India concerning a [Page 1544] possible solution to the Korean crisis. He pointed out that the Canadian Government wished to inform the United States Government of this exchange of correspondence in order that there would be no feeling that Canada was acting unilaterally in the present crisis behind our backs and that the correspondence was initiated by Foreign Minister Pearson on a purely personal basis. Mr. Pearson had shown a copy of his message to Nehru to Prime Minister St. Laurent before sending it to New Delhi.
Mr. Campbell showed me a summary of the contents of this exchange of correspondence which he said he could not leave with me but which was along the following lines:
Message from Pearson to Nehru, November 30, 1950.
Mr. Pearson called attention to the possibility of an extension of the Korean conflict as a result of the Chinese Communist intervention in Korea and the violent and provocative tone adopted by Peiping which had accompanied the intervention. He referred to Mr. Nehru’s unique influence and stature, both in Asia and in many western countries and felt that Nehru’s personal intervention at this stage might give pause to the dangerous trend of events and provide opportunity for a peaceful settlement of the Korean conflict. He suggested that Mr. Nehru might make a public cease-fire appeal and call for a cessation of Chinese intervention so that the possibility of a peaceful settlement might be explored.
Mr. Pearson realized that it might be difficult for Mr. Nehru to make such an appeal if he did not believe that it would have wide support. While Mr. Pearson felt that he could not give assurances of such support, it was his opinion that an appeal of this kind from Mr. Nehru would get a sympathetic reception in many capitals and in the hearts of millions of people.
Nehru’s Reply to Pearson, December 2, 1950.
Mr. Nehru replied to Mr. Pearson’s message of November 30 by saying that he had given Mr. Pearson’s suggestion his most careful consideration. He added that the Indians had always been ready to exert themselves to obtain a localization of the conflict, sometimes by offering suggestions which have brought misunderstanding and criticism, but that this is worthwhile in a cause which may involve the future of mankind. Mr. Nehru was reluctant, however, to make a public appeal unless there was a reasonable chance of a favorable response from the parties to whom it was addressed. He was by no means sure in the present situation that such would be the case.
Mr. Nehru added that, following the receipt of Mr. Pearson’s message, announcement had been made that Prime Minister Attlee would visit Washington, and he thought it probably wise to await the outcome of the Attlee-Truman talks.
In conclusion, Mr. Nehru stated that he had not misunderstood Mr. Pearson’s initiative and added that “it is indeed heartening to me to know that we are all thinking hard how best to save the world from the catastrophe of another major war and resolve to do our best to accomplish that purpose”.