795.00/6–2750: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
priority
[Received June 27—5:13 p. m.]
547. For Hickerson. Gross at Zinchenko luncheon for Malik1 talked at some length with SyG Lie and Malik re Korean situation. President’s statement had been released and Lie commenced conversation by expressing gratification with firm tone of statement. Malik, after remarking [Page 209] that Lie’s attitude was “one-sided”, said that “one-sidedness” characterized action taken by SC on June 25. Malik proceeded with argument SC decision illegal because of absence of USSR and of lawful representative of China. Both Lie and Gross maintained SC action legal.
Proceeding to discussion of Korean situation, Malik at first argued on basis radio reports from Moscow that action against ROK was reply to border attack by ROK forces. Malik did not pursue this line after Lie and Gross commented upon major nature of North Korean offensive. Malik then referred to “intervention by US” and said late reports showed American planes were bombing Korean cities and people. Again both Lie and Gross denied charge of “intervention” and pointed to fact that action by US sea and air forces was being taken in aid of SC resolution and to repel clearly unlawful invasion. Lie asked Gross and Malik for reaction to earlier suggestion of UNCOK for appointment of mediator. Gross replied he was sure that pre-condition for any mediatory or other procedure was cessation of hostilities and withdrawal North Korean forces. Lie emphatically agreed. Malik made no comment.
Malik asked Lie whether he thought Peiping Government would be seated before GA. Lie replied he hoped so, and said he thought that US instructions to 7th Fleet to prevent attacks upon mainland by Nationalist Government from Formosa constituted a “kind of recognition of the Peiping Government”. Gross said this was of course not correct, that it involved recognition of nothing except that it took into account the fact that the Chinese Government on Formosa did not, at the present time, control the mainland of China. Gross said there was no evidence satisfactory to US that the Peiping Government did either.
Gross asked Malik whether he had any suggestion to terminate a situation which we considered so grave that American lives were being jeopardized in behalf of UN decision. Upon Malik’s evasion of a reply, Lie pressed him to answer question. Malik again referred to argument of illegality of SC decision and conversation terminated as Gross said question of Korea so clearly involved question of protection of Charter and hence world peace that the time had passed when debate on the question of Chinese representation could be substituted for compliance on part of North Korea with decision of SC. Malik told Gross he still intends to leave for USSR first week July and evaded reply to question of length of stay.
- Yakov A. Malik, Soviet Representative at the United Nations.↩