Office of the Historian

790.5/4–253

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of Philippine and Southeast Asian Affairs (Bonsal)

top secret
[Washington,] April 2, 1953.

Subject:

  • Establishment of Five Power Liaison Machinery Recommended in Paragraph 44 of the Five Power Military Representatives Conference on Southeast Asia held in Washington on October 6–17, 1952

Participants:

  • Mr. Peter Campbell, First Secretary, Canadian Embassy
  • Mr. Philip W. Bonsal, PSA

Mr. Campbell of the Canadian Embassy came in this morning at his request. He left with me a copy of a telegram from the Canadian Foreign Office sent to the Canadian Embassy, dated March 28, the text of which is as follows:

“After careful consideration, the Ministers have decided not to seek an invitation for a Canadian observer to attend the proposed five-power military conference which is to be held at Pearl Harbour on April 6. We are, however, interested in the discussions, particularly in any discussion of redeployment of forces from Korea and in any consideration that might be given to the establishment of new consultative machinery.

[Page 284]

“Please tell the United States authorities that we considered seeking an invitation for an observer, but have decided not to do so; and that we should like to be informed of the results of the discussions that are to be held. At the same time, you might indicate that you may wish later on to discuss informally the wider implications of these Southeast Asia talks. We are particularly interested in the prospects of new political groupings or bodies being set up to consider the defence of any Pacific or Asiatic area. We hope to send you later fuller guidance on this point.”

I thanked Mr. Campbell for letting me have this information. I insisted upon the purely military-technical character of the current conversations and the meeting in prospect. I asked him if his government had any particular ideas regarding “new political groupings or bodies” which would contribute to the defense of any Pacific or Asiatic area. He replied in the negative. He explained that the problem faced by the Canadian Government is one of meeting domestic political criticism in consequence of activities in the Pacific in which Canada does not participate.

I expressed full understanding of the Canadian position and appreciation at Mr. Campbell’s letting us have the views of his government.