320/1–451: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Mission at the United Nations

secret   priority

619. Delga 4771 raises question what position US rep shld take in event Asian or other Dels desire intermediate step before stronger res, of having Comite I adopt 12-Power res, or, in alternative, of having Entezam group submit “6 principles” to Peiping and await response therefrom.

In our view we shld oppose adoption 12-Power res at this time. Ourtel 6152 was based on assumption that attack by Chi forces had not begun. Under present circumstances adoption of 12-Power res wld be absurd and step backward in our effort to stand firm against aggression.

As to submission of “6 principles” to Peiping we recognize there may be strong demand among certain dels for this move in order satisfy themselves that all efforts have been exhausted. It is difficult for Dept to comment on this approach without seeing text “6 principles. “3 Assuming principles are satisfactory however Dept agrees with position stated by Amb Austin in Delga 477, namely, if we are willing to go along with our friends on this intermediate step before stronger res if it is necessary maintain unity of free world.

Dept believes strongly that if intermediate step is necessary to carry with us big majority on stronger res at later stage, proposal for submission “6 principles” is preferable to adoption of 12-power res. Hence, our willingness acquiesce in former intermediate step can be used as argument against 12-Power res.

Acheson
  1. Supra.
  2. Dated December 28, 1950; for text, see Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. vii, p. 1619.
  3. The “6 principles”, which had been transmitted to the Department in outline form in telegram Delga 477, supra, were sent forward by the U.S. Mission at the United Nations in revised form in the 5 points set forth in telegram Delga 485, January 4, from New York, p. 18.