330/6–2950

Memorandum by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs (Barber) to the Director of the Office of Regional American Affairs (Dreier)

Subject: Decision of higher officials of the Department against using any pressure on LA Governments to contribute armed forces for Korea.

At the meeting today1 with Deputy Under Secretary Matthews, I was informed that it is the decision of the higher officers of the Department that we should not exert any pressure on the Latin American [Page 229] Governments to contribute armed forces in response to a circular telegram to all UN members which Secretary General Lie is sending out.2

Would Mr. Dreier please review the circular telegram that has already gone out on the subject to see if any amendment or modification is necessary?3

Willard F. Barber
  1. The meeting was held at 12:30 p. m. (Korean Conflict).
  2. Concerning Secretary-General Lie’s request for assistance from U.N. members, issued on June 29, see footnote 2 to the memorandum of conversation by Mr. Ross, June 28, p. 221. The responses by the various governments were distributed as U.N. Security Council documents and are also printed in United States Policy in the Korean Crisis, pp. 28 ff.; a table listing offers of assistance to the Republic of Korea during 1950 is printed in Yearbook of the United Nations, 1950, pp. 226–228.
  3. The telegram had been sent on June 28 at 7 a. m. to diplomatic offices in all the other American Republics and read as follows:

    Dept understand SYG Lie of UN is communicating Jun 27 Resol of SC to all member states and probably suggesting that any offers of assistance to ROK in accordance that Res be communicated through him. Cable Dept promptly any indication you may receive of reaction of Govt to Lie’s circular.” (330/6–2850)