396.1–GE/4–2554: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Department of State
Secto 5. Repeated information London 65 Paris 111 Moscow 10 Seoul 6. This morning the Soviets proposed slight rearrangement of alphabetical [Page 142] order seating so as place Communist Chinese directly front Soviet delegation. Plan also results in slight shift so that ROKs not directly behind North Korea as under previous plan, but remain directly front US delegation. Soviets confirmed agreement to plan at meeting this evening so that question seating now considered resolved.
Eden arriving late this evening and seeking appointment with Molotov early tomorrow morning obtain agreement on chairmanship, and other outstanding issues such as rules of procedure, restricted nature meetings, meeting hours, and speaking order. If agreement on chairman within present tripartite position, that is, four-power rotation, permanent chairman selected from delegation other than Big Four or Communist delegation, or neutral Swiss or Swedish, Eden will state further tripartite consultation required. He will suggest no formal rules procedure be adopted for conference, that speaking order be by inscription with chairman and suggest that Berlin communiqué provides sufficient agenda.