Office of the Historian

Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 111

United States Summary Minutes of Bipartite Foreign Ministers Meeting With the United Kingdom

[Extract]

secret
MTL USUK–4
London, June 28, 1952—12:30–1:30 p.m.

Present:

  • United Kingdom
    • Mr. Eden
    • Mr. Selwyn Lloyd
    • Sir William Strang
    • Sir Pierson Dixon
    • Sir Roger Makins
    • Mr. Scott
    • Sir James Bowker
    • Mr. Allen
  • United States
    • Secretary Acheson
    • Ambassador Gifford
    • Ambassador Jessup
    • Mr. Perkins
    • Mr. Nitze
    • Miss Kirkpatrick
    • Mr. Battle
    • Mr. Ringwalt
    • Mr. Palmer

United Kingdom Observer to the Pacific Council

Mr. Eden opened the conversation by assuring the Secretary that the United Kingdom was not in any sense trying to “gate crash” on the question of the Pacific Council. Nevertheless, he said, as a Pacific power the United Kingdom would hope to have a representative present in meetings of the Pacific Council. Mr. Eden mentioned that he had recently discussed this matter with Mr. Menzies, who had remarked that the presence of a British representative might create difficulties for the United States. The Secretary replied that he agreed in principle to some sort of British representation but feared that the attendance of a United Kingdom observer, at least for the present, would create difficulties for all concerned, resulting as it would in other nations with interests in the area, including the Filipinos, the French, and even the Indonesians, requesting the presence of an observer. Nevertheless, the Secretary said, he would be glad to discuss the question with Mr. Menzies and Mr. Holland in the forthcoming meeting in Honolulu. Mr. Lloyd remarked that the Government would have to expect severe criticism as it would go down badly here that an agreement had been made to establish a Pacific Council and that the United Kingdom was without representation on the Council. Mr. Eden wound up by stating that the Government could at least say that [Page 143] the British position was well understood and that it would be discussed at the next meeting of the Council.1

  1. In a press release of June 30, the Department announced that the Council would meet in Honolulu the first week of August. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, July 21, 1952, p. 110.

    Simultaneous announcement was made in Canberra and Wellington.

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