795.00/9–1251
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Merchant)
Subject: British Reaction to UN Bombing of Yalu River Dams
| Participants: | Mr. R. H. Scott, Assistant Under Secretary, British Foreign Office |
| Mr. Tomlinson, Counselor, British Embassy | |
| Mr. Livingston T. Merchant, Acting Assistant Secretary for Far Eastern Affairs |
During my conversation today with Messrs. Scott and Tomlinson, I inquired if the British had yet heard from London regarding a telegram they had sent earlier in the week on the subject of bombing the Yalu River dams. They replied they had received a lengthy telegraphic response, the net of which was that they concurred. I gathered, however, that there was considerable discussion in the telegram of the dangers they foresaw of anti-aircraft fire from the other bank of the Yalu and intensive attack from enemy fighters, creating an almost irresistible temptation for our own fighter pilots to cross into the Manchurian air space. Presumably we will have a more formal confirmation from the British Embassy.1
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No communication was transmitted from the British Embassy until October 2 (see p. 982), but on September 15, Secretary Acheson, then in Ottawa for the North Atlantic Council meeting, sent the following message back to the Department of State:
“Dixon of UK del showed Jessup this afternoon extract from telegram which he described as giving us affirmative answer on bombing of Yalu River plants and dams which they had not been able give us in Washington. Tel indicates ministerial and chiefs of staff consultations resulted in agreement that on conditions envisaged in Secretary’s statement (that is no armistice) and if there is large scale fighting Gen Ridgway should be given discretion if he considers it militarily desirable and important to take such action but UK attaches great importance to our respecting the frontier.” (Telegram Actel 2; 795.00/9–1551)
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