795.00/1–2451: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
3511. Dept concerned by Brit attitude reported urtels 4042 and 4043 Jan 22.1 Deptcirtel 334, Jan 3, gives general background our position and Deptcirtel 424, Jan 242 outlines US proposals re minimum action which should follow UN Res condemning China as aggressor. Relative mildness these proposals, in face great provocation Chi Commies, shld reassure Brit our intentions and provide basis on which large majority UN powers cld reach agreement.
In spite heavy US losses Korea, and resulting public pressure for quick and effective action, US has acquiesced in desire other Powers defer sterner measures during attempts negotiate cease-fire arrangements. This forbearance has evidenced our desire explore all reasonable possibilities for peaceful settlement. It is now clear that failure condemn Commie aggression wld seriously damage UN prestige and [Page 124] influence and jeopardize US public and congressional support for UN.3
Latest Peiping “peace proposal” as read in UN by Rau on Jan 22, while more conciliatory than previous Peiping replies is clearly not acceptance of UN cease-fire proposal Jan 13 which US considered minimum basis on which settlement cld be achieved. Nor is it to be expected that further efforts will bring full Peiping agreement to an acceptable cease-fire proposal. In US view Peiping does not wish peaceful settlement; its latest manoeuver is only designed confuse issues and divide free world so as prevent or postpone UN action and weaken collective security efforts generally. We hope Brit will recognize true character this proposal and will support passage US Res.
Re Para 2 urtel 4043, Dept believes Brit attitude eld be decisive factor in greatly minimizing danger cleavage among Western Powers re this limited program for UN action. Brit leadership eld also help in large measure give any UN Res the effective force it wld require.
Believe further efforts shld be made present true picture US policy re this matter to Govt officials, press, and public, using these points and such arguments from reftels as may be appropriate in each case.
- Ante, p. 117. Telegram 4042 is not printed.↩
- Not printed. Circular telegram 424 was based upon telegram 643, January 20, to New York; see footnote 2, p. 111.↩
- The House of Representatives on January 19 and the Senate on January 23 had passed resolutions urging the United Nations immediately to declare Communist China an aggressor in Korea (H. Res. 77 and S. Res. 35, 82d Cong., 1st sess.).↩