396.1 GE/6–254: Telegram
Smith–Bidault Meeting, Geneva, June 2, Morning: The United States Delegation to the Department of State
Secto 363. Repeated information London 236, Paris 373, Seoul 109. In conversation with Bidault this morning we outlined considerations contained Tedul 1451 and stressed these represented Secretary’s strong personal views. Bidault stated that if we did not adhere to these views whole principle collective security would dissolve. He then referred to Eden’s proposal (Dulte 1382) that the conference agree to a few general principles on Korea. This proposal reads as follows:
“The conference reached agreement on the following principles:
- “(a) Korea, within its historic boundaries, should be unified as a free, independent and democratic state.
- “(b) To this end, elections should be held throughout Korea to establish a single, truly representative government for the whole of Korea.
- “(c) The elections should be held in conditions of genuine freedom under international supervision.
- “(d) The settlement of the Korean question should provide for the withdrawal of foreign forces.
“2. The conference has not been able to agree on the timing or methods or procedure for carrying out these principles and concludes that further discussion of the Korean question cannot usefully be pursued at the present time.”
Bidault, while agreeing that fundamental issue was UN principle collective security, wondered whether reconciliation could not be made between this and Eden’s principles. We took firm position that this would obscure basic issue. Bidault did not press point and concluded by stating that as US bearing main burden Korea as France was in Indochina, he would readily yield to our position. He also agreed we should endeavor arrange meeting of “16” on June 4 to be followed by [Page 338] restricted meeting of “7” on June 5 and final plenary session on Korea next week.