795B.551/7–2250
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
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[Received July 22—11:21 a. m.]
485. ReDeptel 401, July 21.1 Strongly suggest that you permit me have personal talk with Attlee on subject of British plans and possible contribution ground forces in Korea before taking any further steps. I will not put anything formally to him but can sound him out as to British intentions.
It seems to me there are two issues here. First, the extent of British contribution of ground forces in Korean affair and secondly, whether British will follow our pattern of semi-mobilization. Reason I make this recommendation so strongly is that I believe it would be far better if British were to make offer on their own initiative instead of as result of aide-mémoire from us.
An aide-mémoire could probably not be withheld from Commons and feeling might begin develop in certain quarters of Labor Party that we were pressing issue.2
- Not printed; it stated the Department’s strong feeling that the United Kingdom should make a commitment of ground forces to Korea as soon as possible and questioned Ambassador Douglas on the desirability of the Department’s transmitting an aide-mémoire on this subject to the British Ambassador in Washington (795B.5/7–2150)↩
- Department telegram 416, July 22, 2 p. m., to London, not printed, expressed agreement with the line of action suggested by Ambassador Douglas in telegram 485 (795B.551/7–2250).↩