790.5/5–554: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Delegation1

top secret
niact

Tedul 36. For Under Secretary from Secretary. Following is Record of Action reached at NSC meeting this morning2 re Eden proposal set forth in Dulte 51:3

“Agreed that the United States should be willing, in response to a British proposal, to participate in an examination by the existing Five-Power staff agency (US, UK, France, Australia and New Zealand) of the situation in Southeast Asia (including Indochina); provided that:

(1)
The purpose of such examination is to explore means by which these participating governments may assist the countries of Southeast Asia in a cooperative effort to defend themselves.
(2)
It is made clear that such an examination is supplementary to continued efforts by the United States to organize a regional grouping pursuant to NSC Action No. 1086-b4 or 1104-b,5 and is neither a substitute for nor the nucleus of such a grouping.”

[Page 706]

Above is for your information and you should not discuss it with Eden pending further instructions and guidance which will be sent tomorrow. In meantime would appreciate your reaction by urgent wire, if possible, by tomorrow morning.

Dulles
  1. Contents of telegram dictated by Secretary Dulles; telegram drafted by MacArthur of C.
  2. The 195th meeting of the National Security Council, May 6, 1954, 10 a.m. For the memorandum of discussion, see volume xiii.
  3. Dated May 5, p. 698.
  4. NSC Action No. 1086–b, Apr. 6, 1954 read:

    “Agreed that the United States should direct its efforts prior to the Geneva Conference toward:

    • “(1) Organizing a regional grouping, including initially the U.S., the U.K., France, the Associated States, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and the Philippines, for the defense of Southeast Asia against Communist efforts by any means to gain control of the countries in this area.
    • “(2) Gaining British support for U.S. objectives in the Far East, in order to strengthen U.S. policies in the area.
    • “(3) Pressing the French to accelerate the program for the independence of the Associated States.”

    For discussion of NSC Action No. 1086, see memorandum of discussion at the 192d meeting of the National Security Council, Apr. 6, 1954, in volume xiii.

  5. NSC Action No. 1104–b, Apr. 29, 1954 read:

    “Agreed that, despite the current unwillingness of the British Government to participate at this time and without awaiting developments at the Geneva Conference, the United States should continue its efforts, undertaken pursuant to NSC Action No. 1086-b-(1), to organize a regional grouping, including initially the U.S., France, the Associated States, and other nations with interests in the area, for the defense of Southeast Asia against Communist efforts by any means to gain control of the countries in this area; final recommendation on the above to await return and report of the Secretary of State.

    Note: The action in b above, as approved by the President, subsequently transmitted to the Secretary of State for appropriate action.”

    For discussion of NSC Action No. 1104, see memorandum of discussion at the 194th meeting of the National Security Council, Apr. 29, 1954, in volume xiii.

    For the information of the U.S. Delegation the Department of State transmitted NSC Action No. 1104-b in telegram Tedul 38, May 7, 1954. (396.1 GE/5–754)