Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume XII, Part 1

396.1 GE/7–1954: Telegram

The Under Secretary of State (Smith) to the Department of State

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Geneva, July 19, 1954—9 p.m.

Secto 674. Limit distribution. Re Secto 660.¹ Eden and I have discussed program of action to be taken in event of acceptable settlement. We have agreed to submit the following formula to London and Washington for approval. I feel this text reflects gratifying progress in UK thinking.

“Action in re to Southeast Asia pact in the event of acceptable agreement on Indochina at Geneva on or about July 20.

1. Every effort should be made to persuade countries of Southeast Asia and Southwest Pacific to associate themselves in some way with the Geneva agreement, in accordance with the suggestion made to them on July 19.²

2. Whether or not such declarations of association are made by all the countries concerned, invitations should be addressed not later than August 7 to the Governments of France, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Burma, Indonesia, the Philippines and Siam, to appoint representatives to meet with representatives of the Governments of the US and UK in (blank) not later than September 1 in order to prepare recommendations on the conclusion of a collective defense agreement for Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific.

3. The invitations to the five commonwealth countries, Burma, and Indonesia would be sent by the UK Government, to the Philippines and Siam by the US Government, and to France jointly by the two governments”³

Smith

1. Not printed. (396.1 GE/7–1954)
2. Reference is to another section of the message from Eden to the Colombo powers, Australia, and New Zealand, which is partially outlined in footnote 1, supra.
3. In telegram Tosec 579 to Geneva, July 20, marked “From Secretary for Under Secretary” and drafted by MacArthur, Dulles gave approval to the formula above but requested that the phrase “establishment of a collective defense” replace “conclusion of a collective defense agreement” in numbered paragraph 2. (396.1 GE/7–1954) The Secretary’s reasoning, as set forth in telegram Tosec 572 to Geneva, July 19, marked “For General Smith from Secretary”, drafted by Bonbright and cleared by MacArthur, was as follows: “I had in mind that with this change it would be easier for us to move expeditiously in establishment of ad hoc machinery before details of agreement were finally worked out which might take some time.” (396.1 GE/7–1854)