Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, Korea and China, Volume VII, Part 2

320.2–AC/8–2351: Telegram

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

secret

Washington, September 17, 1951—6 p. m.

145. Urtel 261 Aug 23.¹ Dept believes so long as armis discussions not definitely terminated it wld be undesirable begin prelim negots on three points mentioned reftel. It is important avoid any step which wld be interpreted as evidence US has given up hope of peaceful settlement in Korea. If definite breakdown negots appears imminent we will raise with other nations early convocation AMC consider additional measures. Dept views as to such future action AMC will be formulated in near future.

Meanwhile, however, we shld avoid giving impression AMC moribund since it has continuing responsibility for execution measures already agreed upon May 18 res. Dept considering desirability AMC mtg in early future to study operation existing measures and prepare report GA. You shld seek UK and Fr del reactions.²

Dept continues follow carefully functioning strategic embargo. We are studying particularly problems created by use shipping friendly countries to carry embargoed materials, and bunkering ships carrying same in friendly ports. Dept studying methods to meet these problems.

Webb

1. In telegram 261 from New York, August 23 (not printed), the U.S. Mission at the United Nations stated that it assumed the Department of State was including the following three points in its current consideration of the question of reactivating the Additional Measures Committee, in the light of the possibility the Communists might definitively break off truce talks: (1) condemning the failure of the Soviet Union and Associated States to comply with the strategic embargo; (2) extension of the strategic embargo to a full embargo: and (3) endorsement of the U.N. Secretary-General’s appeal for additional ground forces (320.2–AC/8–2351).
2. In telegram 493 from New York, October 18 (not printed), the U.S. Mission at the United Nations reported that the official British and French position, as related by the British and French Representatives at the United Nations, was opposed to an early meeting of the Additional Measures Committee and report to the General Assembly. No further meetings of the Additional Measures Committee were held during the year 1951; see the memorandum of December 26 by Under Secretary Webb, p. 2051.