611.41/11–2951

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State

top secret
Participants: Secretary Acheson
Mr. Eden

[Here follows the first portion of the memorandum dealing with discussion of the “European Army”; for text, see volume III, Part 1, page 746.]

The second question was Korea. At this point Mr. Shuckburgh joined us, and the conversation was largely conducted by him through notes.

He wished to be clear that the public statement we had been discussing was one to be issued either by the United Kingdom and the United States jointly, or by us simultaneously or separately, rather than through the United Nations.

I confirmed that this was what we had said at our previous meeting.1 I could not now see how the UN could possibly issue any statement, the Security Council being inhibited by the veto and the General Assembly by the impossibility of its procedures.

I thought that the main thing at the present time was to agree upon our policy. After that we could work out the method of the announcement. But for the present, I said, I could see no satisfactory avenue through the UN. However, our statements should be sufficiently vague so that they would not either include or alienate the UN.

[Page 1201]

We then went over the three points mentioned by Mr. Eden as the important ones on which to concentrate. I confirmed this, and said that we had already telegraphed these to the Department. Mr. Eden confirmed that they would have Cabinet discussion and would try to let us know before I left Rome, which I said would be either Sunday or Monday.2

  1. See the memorandum of conversation by Mr. Barnes, November 28, p. 1189.
  2. December 2 or 3.