Office of the Historian

234. Telegram From the Embassy in the United Kingdom to the Department of State1

London, June 2, 1956—noon.

5585. Department please repeat USUN. Responsive Deptel 7212 May 29, EmbOff called yesterday on head of Far Eastern DeptFonOff take preliminary sounding on UK willingness continue support moratorium arrangement at 11th session of GA. Embassy recalled Secretary’s conversation with Eden on this subject at time of Eden-Eisenhower talks, reminded FonOff of strength of US feeling this subject which bi-partisan in nature, and stated that, whereas there was no question of urgency, it seemed time that UK gave serious consideration to question. Embassy expressed assumption that UKG would doubtless agree to moratorium for duration of session.

FonOff representative stated that issue had lain dormant since Eden-Eisenhower talks and that it had not yet been referred to Ministers, but he agreed that it was time active consideration be given to problem. He said that issue basically political and not one for decision by FonOff. There seems to be some feeling that, whereas UKG might acquiesce in moratorium for balance of calendar year, Ministers might well hesitate acquiesce for entire session which conceivably could extend well into 1957.

For Dept’s consideration Embassy suggests that approach outlined reftel might be modified in future conversations to improve negotiating position with British on this issue. We have in mind that completely open-ended inquiries as to status British consideration problem tend to facilitate British injection conditions etc. More promising approach would seem to us to be to imply that there can be little if any question of Brit going along with US in continuing moratorium given importance to Brit of maintaining global US-UK solidarity and that, in assuming their concurrence on continuance, we should concentrate on obtaining decision appropriate tactics for achievement and stress importance moratorium cover full session in view unusual schedule 11th session. Embassy endeavored inject note such confidence re Brit position in conversation reported above.

Aldrich
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320/6–256. Confidential.↩