795.00/11–1150
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Edward P. Maffitt of the United States Mission at the United Nations
US/S/1568
Subject: Korea.
| Participants: | H.E. Dr. Victor Andres Belaunde, Chairman of the Delegation of Peru | ||
| Ambassador Warren R. Austin | } | United States | |
| Mr. Edward P. Maffitt | Delegation | ||
Dr. Belaunde came in this morning at his request to put what he termed a personal idea to Ambassador Austin. At the outset he stressed that he had not communicated the idea to his Government and would do nothing about it if it was unacceptable to the United States Government. He did not wish to do anything which might weaken or embarrass the United States since his Government was heart-and-soul with the United States, et cetera, et cetera.
Briefly Belaunde’s idea was the establishment of a buffer band, say ten miles deep, around Korea’s northern borders with the USSR and Manchuria, this territory to be demilitarized, and administered by a special Security Council commission which would include among its members a representative of Red China and a United Nations power friendly to Red China such as perhaps India. He said he had conceived this idea (and had mentioned it last night to General Romulo) as a result of a growing fear which he felt among fellow delegates that the third world war was close.
Belaunde went on to say that the United States should not propose such a step but that he could take it up with the Latin American caucus meeting on Eritrea at 3:00 p. m. with a view to having Ecuador and Cuba pose it to the Security Council.
[Page 1131]In passing Belaunde said it was a step forward that the Red Chinese were invited to present their case in the United Nations but that he wondered whether the delegation would come. Ambassador Austin said he had some doubt that they would come. Belaunde said he shared that doubt.
Commenting in strict confidence and on a purely personal basis, Ambassador Austin described American public opinion as being increasingly bitter against the Red Chinese and increasingly opposed to anything which might give them face or recognition. He said that even people who had previously favored the admission of the Peiping regime to the UN in the cause of peace had become disillusioned and were now against the idea. He was extremely doubtful that public opinion would assent to anything that might look like appeasement or concessions to Peiping and he felt that we probably will take the position that nothing can be offered until the Reds withdraw the spearpoint at present menacing the UN forces in Northern Korea. He recounted past American services and help to the Chinese people and pointed out the effect on American opinion of Peiping’s ingratitude therefor.
Ambassador Austin said furthermore that anything which appeared to be appeasement or yielding would simply stimulate the enemy behind the Red Chinese to press its puppets onward to ever-expanding aggression. He felt, however, that if the USSR found resolute firmness facing it, it would, as it had in the past, not push an unprofitable venture. He felt that the USSR had blundered and had over-reached itself in extending its political sway over the tremendous Chinese land mass, and was uncertain what to do next. The Korean adventure had turned out badly for its North Korean puppet and the Tibetan invasion was having unfavorable repercussions for its Peiping puppet. The USSR itself was still not committed to war and could keep Korea from becoming the beginning of the third world war. In fact, Ambassador Austin said he would not be surprised if, faced with an unyielding UN attitude in Korea, the USSR turned up with some attempt to negotiate its way out of its difficulty.
Dr. Belaunde said it would serve equally well if the creation of a buffer band should be proposed by the USSR.
Ambassador Austin added another reason why he felt it might be unwise to proceed with Dr. Belaunde’s idea at this time. He said that the Red regime in China is not Chinese but Russian, not republican but dictatorial, and not popular but un-Chinese. Anything the United Nations did to give “face” to the regime would offend the people of China and set them against us.
Dr. Belaunde thanked Ambassador Austin for his frank expression of views and said that he would forget his idea. Ambassador Austin [Page 1132] said not to forget it because it was good in principle and might be useful sometime when and if it could be carried out without the great cost which he had outlined above.
Dr. Belaundo left after saying that he would not do anything at this time and would never do anything on the matter against the advice of Ambassador Austin.