320.2–AC/5–151: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Mission at the United Nations
888. Dept appreciates force of considerations raised urtel 1463 Apr 27. Similar considerations have underlain Dept’s policy of delay in AMC work since Feb 1 and are in large part responsible for modest nature of our proposals.
We have, however, now reached conclusion that, damaging as a revelation of disharmony in UN may be, still greater damage will be done if we do not publicly take stand that UN shld adopt econ measures to supplement mil operations against aggressors. We hope that when our proposals are put up for actual vote, our friends will come to accept our view that failure of UN to take such action will go far to destroy credit of UN in US and other member states and will correspondingly reinforce Chi Commie conviction they can successfully defy UN. This cld have serious effects on whole effort to build effective collective security for free world.
As stated Deptel 887, Apr 28, we will expect full discussion our proposal in AMC, although we cannot agree to dilatory tactics. If you consider it desirable, we wld refrain from introducing draft res at first AMC mtg, but wld merely set forth substance of our position. However, since AMC members are already fully familiar with our ideas, we cannot see how we cld fail to introduce res at fol mtg, possibly May 7.
Without raising matter with other Dels, pls give us soonest ur views re possibility obtaining co-sponsors in AMC for res on econ measures.