Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, National Security Affairs; Foreign Economic Policy, Volume I

320/11–2251: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France

secret   niact

Washington, November 23, 1951—4:50 p. m.

Gadel 227. Re Delga 300.¹ Dept appreciates undesirability from tactics viewpoint US opposing proposal for establishing sub-comite of Comite 1 to develop composite draft on disarmament unless Sovs can be maneuvered into indicating prior opposition. However, Dept believes sub-comite most unhappy idea and USGADel shld not encourage sub-comite for fol reasons among others:

1. Obvious substantive gap between tripartite draft Res and Sov proposals is too wide to be spanned by semantic bridge except to detriment substance tripartite position.

2. Composition of sub-comite utmost importance. In our view wld be difficult if not impossible avoid inclusion India and other Dels of like view. In such case tripartite draft sponsors might be placed in unduly defensive position on such individual points as possible declaration prohibiting atomic weapons now.

Dept firmly endorses Jessup view we shld tell UK and Fr we inclined wait until Vyshinsky’s speech before final decision re sub-comite.

Webb

1. Supra.