396.1–GE/4–554: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union1
642. Urtels 1196 and 11972 re substantive issue raised second paragraph Soviet aide-mémoire, Department’s view is Soviets should be left no doubt as to views Western powers this regard. We have proposed to British and French, and British have agreed that aide-mémoire be dealt with in two separate exercises: (1) a short tripartite aide-mémoire to be delivered by you with respect to administrative and technical arrangements dealt with in the remainder of Soviet note, text of which being transmitted by separate telegram;3 and (2) delivery of identic notes to Soviets by three Western Ambassadors on substantive issue. Text of U.S. note follows:
“With reference to the Soviet aide-mémoire of April 5, the Government of the United States points out that the characterization therein of the forthcoming Conference at Geneva as a ‘conference of representatives of the United States of America, France, England, Chinese People’s Republic and USSR which shall take part in discussion Korean question and question of re-establishment peace in Indochina which are on conference agenda, with participation other interested states for appropriate questions’, does not correspond to the letter or the sense of the agreement reached by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Four Powers at Berlin on February 18, 1954.
The concept embodied in the aide-mémoire of April 5 was explicitly rejected at the meeting of the four Foreign Ministers at Berlin.
The Resolution agreed to by the four Foreign Ministers on February 18 does not contemplate a conference limited to five participants as to either the Korean or the Indochinese question. Arrangements concerning the Geneva Conference which are not dealt with equally by all of the participants will be the special responsibility of the governments of the United States, France, the United Kingdom and the USSR.”
U.K. have agreed identic text and Ambassador Moscow being instructed coordinate timing and delivery with you and French Ambassador. Hope French Government will issue similar instructions French Ambassador. Have informed French and U.K. that Department does not consider delivery should necessarily be joint but leave manner delivery discretion three Ambassadors Moscow. Tripartite aide-mémoire should not be delivered until French Ambassador instructed deliver note.