330/12–350: Telegram
The Chargé in Norway (Snow) to the Secretary of State
niact
[Received December 3—9:16 p. m.]
563. ReDepcirtel 221, December 1 and Embtel 562, December 2. FonMin Lange informed me 6 p. m. today that his preliminary views [Page 1343] expressed yesterday re UN action on Korea situation had been confirmed today by cabinet defense committee made up of Prime Minister, Defense Minister, Justice Minister and himself.
They understood from Norwegian UN delegation that proposal now was for delegations of 6 powers jointly to address letter to Assembly President tomorrow December 4 requesting item be placed on GA agenda as urgent priority matter. This would be expected bring on full debate beginning December 6 or very shortly thereafter. Debate in turn would aim toward early passage of resolution which would presumably receive more than ⅔ vote even if not all of 52 country majority. Seemed quite unlikely China would heed any such resolution particularly so long as Chinese troops were or thought they were winning. In opinion himself and his 3 colleagues end result would then be a state of declared war between the Communist Government of China and the UN.
Once this process were set in motion by putting the question on the GA agenda, the other steps would inexorably follow without possibility of stopping them.
They therefore consider that at least a few days more should elapse before the fatal sequence is started. Rau and Lie have told Norwegian UN delegation they are pessimistic as result their conversations with Chinese Communist group but do not yet feel approach hopeless. Still some remote possibility there which could be explored next few days, Lange thinks. Then also although latest military news is discouraging, defensible new line might be found which would improve UNs position. Thirdly Norwegian Government would hope that Attlee and President Truman would weigh consequences of proposed GA procedure during interval.
Lange said he believed we would find other western European countries thinking along these same lines.
Issue being placed before full cabinet tomorrow morning and then before Storting Foreign Affairs Committee composed all parties. Instructions to Norwegian UN delegation are to set forth above position and if other 5 delegations should insist on getting item on GA agenda without further delay, delegation is to seek further instructions.
Please instruct niact if Department wishes I press US view. Norwegian view that once matter gets on GA agenda it will head straight toward declared war or equivalent in short time seems to afford room for argument.1
- A note in the source text by the Chief Watch Officer of the Department of State indicated that an affirmative answer was sent to Oslo by a service message at 11:30 p. m. on December 3.↩