Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Korea and China, Volume VII, Part 1

795.00/1–2451: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom ¹

secret   priority

Washington, January 24, 1951—7 p. m.

3512. For the Ambassador. Franks met last night with Secy and other Dept officers for discussion Korea–UN problem. Discussion centered about Brit reluctance support provision Korean res calling for study by CMC further steps to be taken meet aggression. Secy stressed point it shld be to Brit interest support this proposal as that wld for an indeterminate period remove question from public and heated arena of Assembly itself. This Comite which, in US view, shld meet in private wld provide forum for exhaustive examination all possibilities in which UK wld have full opportunity put forward and argue its point of view. There will be ample opportunity bilateral consultation with view reaching, if possible, common position in CMC. Dept believes program US intends propose in CMC, set forth Depcirtel 424 Jan 24,² extremely modest and as such shld appeal to Brit.

You requested discuss this matter at highest possible level FonOff explaining US position as indicated above in effort persuade Brit go along with this provision US res. You may also wish to use material Deptel 3511.³

Acheson

1. Repeated to the U.S. Mission at the United Nations as 656.
2. See footnote 2, supra.
3. In his telegram 4126, January 25, from London, Ambassador Gifford reported having set forth the argument contained in telegram 3512 to Sir William Strang, Permanent Under Secretary of State in the Foreign Office, during the afternoon of January 25. The Ambassador indicated that Strang expressed understanding of the U.S. position but said the British Cabinet was considering the question daily and had not yet sent forward final instructions on voting on the U.S. draft resolution in the United Nations. (795.00/1–2551)