493.119/11–2151
The Acting Secretary of Defense (Foster) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: With respect to the Department of State draft position paper entitled “Additional Economic Measures Against Communist China and North Korea” (NOV D–4b, dated 31 [30] October 1951), the Department of Defense has several comments and recommendations to submit to the Department of State for the formulation of a final position paper on this subject.
There is convincing evidence available in this Department to indicate that a substantial volume of strategic materials and munitions continues to enter Communist China from the Western nations. The Department of Defense considers that such deliveries must be stopped. In this light, the draft position paper appears to be too cautious. It is the opinion of the Department of Defense that the US Delegation should be instructed to seek much more extensive economic measures against the Communists than are now called for. It should vigorously explore the possibility of adding to the present embargo list and pressing for stricter enforcement of the existing or amended embargo. The Department of Defense would particularly like to emphasize that inasmuch as the aggression in Korea will not have ceased until a political settlement is reached, economic measures against Communist China and North Korea should continue in full force until that time.
To carry out the intent of these views in part, the Department of Defense would recommend the following specific deletions: (1) the last sentence in the paragraph at the top of page 41 since it would appear to be an overstatement of the situation, (2) the second sentence in the last paragraph on page 4b,2 and (3) the second sentence in the first paragraph on page 7.3
For your information and consideration, I am including the following comments of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on this draft position paper:
“From a realistic point of view, the fighting between the forces of Communist China (satellite of the USSR) and of the United States (including forces of the other Western nations engaged in Korea) is [Page 2050] tantamount to war, with the scene of action confined to the area of Korea. There is no assurance that the fighting will remain localized. Additionally, among the Western nations the United States is now the dominant power in the Western Pacific. Consequently, in any conflict of interest arising between the United States and other Western Powers which may affect the position of the United States in the Far East, the United States should in its own interest insist that United States security considerations in that area be overriding. In this connection, United States actions with reference to the trade of the Western World with Communist China should be guided by the realities of the need of the United States to win the war in Korea. Accordingly, the Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that the instructions to the United States Delegation should be stiffened to reflect the concern of the United States over the situation with respect to Communist China trade.
“The Joint Chiefs of Staff have recommended that steps be taken by the United States to obtain agreement among the sixteen nations participating in the action in Korea to the imposition by the United Nations Command of a naval blockade of the entire coast of China, all in the event of a breakdown of the current armistice negotiations. Accordingly, the Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that the instructions to the United States Delegation covering such an eventuality should be greatly stiffened and that the Delegation should demand that a total trade embargo be imposed immediately. In this connection, the Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that the United States should also call for, through such channels as may be deemed appropriate, agreement by at least a majority of the sixteen nations to a naval blockade.
“The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that action be taken by the United States Delegation to insure the imposition by other nations at this time of restrictions on trade with Communist China equal in severity to those now imposed by the United States. This action should be taken either in the United Nations or in extra-United Nations arrangements to assure that the spirit as well as the letter of the restrictions is carried out. This applies especially to those cooperating countries having important merchant marines, particularly the United Kingdom. The restrictions should be imposed until a political settlement in Korea has been reached.
“With reference to the foregoing, and with specific reference to the section of the paper entitled “Recommendations”, the Joint Chiefs of Staff are of the opinion that the aggression in Korea will not have ceased until a political settlement is reached.
“Subject to incorporation of the foregoing views in the basic paper, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have no objection to those portions of the subject paper having military implications.”
Representatives of the Department of Defense are in Paris to assist in the revision of this draft position paper. The Department of Defense would appreciate being informed by the Department of State of such revision.
Sincerely yours,
- This sentence read as follows: “In general, it may be said that the embargo has had an appreciable economic and psychological impact upon the aggressors.”↩
- This sentence read as follows: “For the delegation’s information, it is recognized that it may become necessary to compromise with the British, French and others as to the timing and mode of removal of the embargo if the alternative is a sharp split with our allies.”↩
- This sentence read as follows: “The United States Delegation should not seek the addition of new categories of goods to the United Nations embargo.”↩