Office of the Historian

795.00/6–953

Memorandum of Conversation, by the United Nations Adviser to the Bureau of European Affairs (Allen)

secret
[Washington,] June 9, 1953.

Subject:

  • Greater Sanctions Statement

Participants:

  • Mr. Millet, French Embassy
  • Mr. Hickerson, UNA
  • Mr. Johnson, FE
  • Mr. W. P. Allen, EUR

Mr. Millet called on instructions to follow up on the conversation of Ambassador Bonnet and the Secretary of Monday, June 8, in which the Secretary expressed a favorable view toward an addition to the Greater Sanctions Statement which would indirectly refer to the Indochinese situation, but pointed out the probable negative attitude of the rest of the sixteen and the difficulties of re-negotiating it. Mr. Millet stated that although the French are approaching the UK in London, they urge in view of the shortness of time that a meeting of all sixteen be convoked in order to obtain agreement expeditiously. Mr. Millet expressed his government’s disappointment at the delay in receiving US definitive reaction to the French suggestion which they had raised with us quite some time ago.

Mr. Johnson explained that quite frankly the principal reason for our delay and hesitation was that just about that time one or two of the other adherents to the statement became very shaky on whether a statement should be issued at all and it seemed to us desirable to re-solidify [Page 1159] our agreement on the issuance of the statement before considering any question of amending it.

As to the French suggestion of the meeting of the sixteen, Messrs. Hickerson and Johnson pointed out that the UK, Canada and South Africa are the keys to obtaining any agreement for modification and that in the absence of their willingness to accept the addition we felt little purpose would be served in a general meeting of the sixteen. In point of fact a meeting might stimulate more opposition. After discussion it was finally agreed that if the French are able to persuade the British and Canadians to accept the addition the US will seek to obtain South Africa’s approval and the matter would then be taken up individually with the rest of the sixteen.