Office of the Historian

790.5/5–1854: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Delegation1

top secret
niact
Washington, May 20, 1954—10:32 a.m.

Tedul 93. Under Secretary from Secretary rptd info and eyes only Ambs. JCS have submitted following comments on draft terms of reference for five-power military talks:

  • “1. The recommendations of the JCS on State Dulte 84 May 18, 19542 on above subject are as follows:
    • “a. Re para 1, meetings should be held and completed in Washington. JCS do not concur in British recommendation ‘to move elsewhere later’.
    • “b. Re para 2, terms of reference should read as follows: ‘Military representatives of participating powers (i.e., no reference to be made to a five-power staff agency) will meet in Washington and will undertake military planning studies, objective of which will be to examine, without commitment, security matters of mutual interest and to explore means by which military assistance could be rendered to countries of SEA which might request it.’
    • “c. Re subpara 3(A), US and UK should inform France, Australia, and New Zealand, simultaneously and jointly, in Geneva.
    • “d. Re subpara 3(B) US Govt should inform Japan, Republic of Korea, Nationalist Govt Republic of China, Thailand, and Philippines. UK may inform Colombo powers and Canada.
    • “e. Re unnumbered subpara following subpara 3(B), nonparticipating powers should be informed that purpose of exercise is ‘to undertake military planning studies, objective of which will be to examine, without commitment, security matters of mutual interest and to explore means by which military assistance could be rendered to countries of SEA which might request it.’
    • “f. Re para 4, as to start of meetings, upon notification from Geneva of acceptance by France, Australia, and New Zealand, US military authorities would initiate call for first meeting.
    • “g. Re para 5, there should be no public announcement at beginning of talks and no information should be given to press as talks proceed. With reference to possibility of a leakage, in that eventuality appropriate quotations from terms of reference should be used in answering questions.
  • “2. Copy of this memorandum has been provided directly to Department of State in view of urgency this matter. For JCS: s/Arthur Radford, Chairman, JCS.”

I discussed above with Admiral Radford this morning and send following comments (on numbered paras in JCS memo) for your guidance in further talks with Eden:

1.a.
I explained to Radford that in our opinion any decision to move elsewhere would have to be concurred in unanimously by all [Page 859] participants and is not subject to majority vote. This is our interpretation which you might confirm with Eden.
1.b.
JCS attaches particular importance to this para dealing with terms of reference and we hope very much you can get Eden to accept.
1.c.
Assume you can work out arrangements to inform France, Australia, and New Zealand simultaneously or jointly in Geneva of terms of reference when they have been agreed by US and UK.
1.d.
We of course reserve right to inform other countries in general terms re exercise and would expect in fact to inform countries mentioned in JCS memo and possibly others.
1.e.
Is designed to bring information to others in line with terms of reference proposed in lb above.
1.f.
Self-explanatory.
1.g.
Has been somewhat overtaken by events as result of yesterday’s leak in London.3

There is one point which has not been covered in Eden’s memo which is, informing Associated States. We are going on assumption this is oversight since notification of these States we regard as essential. Suggest you seek Eden’s agreement to their being informed. Assume this would be done by French and possibly yourself also as representative of host govt.

Dulles
  1. Drafted by the Secretary of State. Repeated to Paris as telegram 4169 and to London as telegram 6209.↩
  2. Ante, p. 841.↩
  3. See telegram Tedul 88, May 19, p. 856.↩