396.1 GE/7–1854: Telegram
The Under Secretary of State (Smith) to the Department of State
Secto 649. Limit distribution. I think UK message to Colombo powers, Australia and New Zealand (Secto 644)1 is satisfactory [Page 644] step forward particulary since Eden is talking in terms of making declaration of intention as early as Thursday, July 22 in event of failure Geneva negotiations. Message itself may have salutary effect on work of conference when Communist delegates become aware of UK approach to Colombo powers.
Should, however, conference produce settlement Eden is hoping for more time and would like a delay of two or three weeks before making declaration of intention. His thought is that first thing following a settlement is to get Colombo powers to declare their support thereof and with this in mind is suggesting to them a form of words along the lines of proposed US unilateral declaration. It is clear that in this eventuality we will need to keep pushing Eden for earliest possible action.
- From Geneva, dated July 18. In this telegram, not printed, Smith had transmitted a draft message from Eden to the Colombo powers. (396.1 GE/7–1854) A copy of the message as transmitted, dated July 18, was handed to the Secretary by Sir Roger Makins on July 19. In it the United Kingdom invited the recipient powers to join with itself and the United States, in the event an Indochina agreement was not reached, in issuing a declaration of intention to set up immediately an interim committee to prepare early recommendations on the conclusion of a Southeast Asia–Southwest Pacific collective defense agreement. (751G.00/7–1854) For text, see vol. xvi, p. 1434.↩