Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Korea, Volume VII

795.00/7–1750: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in India ¹

top secret
niact

Washington, July 17, 1950—8 p. m.

77. There fols text msg from Sec to Nehru approved by Pres which you shld deliver earliest opportunity:

“My dear Mr. Prime Minister: I am deeply appreciative of the high purpose which prompted ur Excellency in sending the msg which I recd on July 13, 1950 through ur distinguished Amb in Wash, and ur subsequent msg of the 17th transmitting Prime Man Stalin’s reply to ur similar ltr to him of July 13. Both the Pres and I have given the most thoughtful consideration to these communications.

“One of the most fundamental objectives of the fon policy of the US is to assist in maintaining world peace, and the Govt of the US is firmly of the opinion that the UN is the most effective instrument yet devised for maintaining and restoring internatl peace and security. The US is, therefore, eager to do all that is proper and possible to preserve and strengthen the United Nations.

“The purpose of the US Govt and of the Amer people with respect to Korea is to support by all means at our disposal the determination of the United Nations to repel the armed attack upon Korea and to restore internatl peace and security in the area. We desire both to prevent the spread of aggression beyond Korea and to end it there—as required by the SC of the United Nations.

“We are deeply conscious of the fact that law-abiding Govts and peoples throughout the world have a vital stake in the issues involved in this aggression and in the success of the United Nations in dealing with it. It is painful to realize that there cld have long since been a restoration of peace and the saving of the lives of those fighting on behalf of the United Nations had not a small minority of the United Nations failed to meet their obligations under the Charter and refused to use their auth and influence to prevent or stop the hostilities. The acceptance of their obligations and the exercise of their auth and influence in accordance with those obligations wld restore peace tomorrow.

“A breach of the peace or an act of aggression is the most serious matter with which the United Nations can be confronted. We do not believe that the termination of the aggression from northern Korea can be contingent in any way upon the determination of other questions which are currently before the United Nations.

“There has not been at any time any obstacle to the full participation by the Soviet Union in the work of the United Nations except the decision of the Soviet Government itself. The Security Council has shown that it is both competent and willing to act vigorously for the maintenance of peace.

“In our opinion, the decision between competing claimant governments for China’s seat in the United Nations is one which must be reached by the United Nations on its merits. It is a question on which there is at present a wide diversity of views among the membership of the United Nations. I know you will agree that the decision should not be dictated by an unlawful aggression or by any other conduct which would subject the United Nations to coercion and duress.

“I know that your Excellency shares our earnest desire to see an early restoration of peace in Korea in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council and I assure you of our eagerness to work with you and your great country to establish in the United Nations a means by which the fear of aggression can be permanently lifted from the peoples of the earth.”

Since Stalin’s reply has been made public, we believe we must shortly make public our reply to Mr. Nehru. Pls ascertain whether he has objection to publication his ltr July 13 at same time.

Inform Dept urgently when msg will be delivered New Delhi in order that copy may be provided Ind Amb here at about same time.²

Acheson

1. Repeated for information to Moscow as 52, London as 307 and to the U.S. Mission at the United Nations as 44.
2. Telegram 135, July 18, from New Delhi, informed the Department that the message would be handed to Bajpai at 9:30 p. m. local time on July 18 (330/7–1850). See telegram 137 from New Delhi received at 4:27 p. m. on July 18, p. 417.