396.1 GE/7–2054: Telegram
The United States Delegation to the Department of State
priority
Secto 683. For Secretary from Under Secretary. Makin’s report to Eden accurately covered ground your Tosec 572.1 Latter assured me there was no misunderstanding re impossibility US joining in any multilateral statement with Communists.
Eden messages to Colombo powers, Australia and New Zealand were all delivered yesterday.
Re point three of his Annex A,2 Eden prepared to take our language if article “the” omitted and text thus amended to read “would view any renewal of aggression” etc. He observed, however, that what was sought in this instance was not agreement on part of seven powers to text of joint declaration but to stimulate them to produce and issue [Page 1474] individual declarations associating them in some way with a Geneva settlement and containing suggested points, but in their own language. These points had been advanced as “the kind of points that might be included in anything that were said.” In agreement with us, no indication was given that points taken from US draft declaration. It was Eden’s thought that each country would produce its own form of language and these would probably differ considerably. Most Colombo powers would presumably wish to avoid using term “aggression” in this context.
Re Annex B,3 Eden said he thought phrase “establishment of a collective defense” was better than his original and agreed to advance and support it, if and when this proposed document discussed with powers concerned. We agreed it was better not to make special démarche for this purpose but to await recipients initial reactions.