Office of the Historian

338. Minutes of a United States–United Kingdom Foreign Ministers Meeting, Department of State, Washington, January 31, 1956,10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.1

ETW MC–3
Washington, January 31, 1956, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

[Here follow a list of persons present (19), a table of contents, and discussion on Vietnam (see volume I, page 628), Malaya, and neutralism (see Document 80). In addition to Foreign Secretary Lloyd, British officials included Ambassador Roger Makins, Sir Hubert Graves, and Sir Harold Caccia. Accompanying Secretary Dulles were, among others, Hoover, Ambassador Winthrop W. Aldrich, Robertson, Bowie, and Young.]

Laos

Mr. Robertson summarized the US viewpoint on Laos. The ICC resolution of January 7 while not perfect had the virtue of carrying out the intent of the Geneva agreement regarding the sovereignty and integrity of Laos. This resolution and its intent should be strongly supported. The Pathet Lao has not yet accepted it although they have passed the deadline set down by the Commission. Instead the Pathet Lao seeks a permanent division of Laos and the Communists are trying to connect a settlement in Laos with that in Viet-Nam. The US strongly believes there is no such connection. The sovereignty of the Government of Laos was recognized at the Geneva Conference and that should be firmly supported. The Canadians have done a stalwart job with the Poles always in the opposition and the Indians in the middle trying to win over the Poles. If the situation deteriorates [Page 735] and the problem of the two provinces is not solved, there could be trouble if the Royal Government should seek a military solution. The Communists have been putting on a propaganda offensive in South Viet-Nam to accuse the Vietnamese and the US of all sorts of infringements of the Geneva Accords. Actually the real and flagrant violation of the Geneva Accords has been by the Communists in Laos. All possible influence should be used with the Commission to take a firm position on the observance of the Geneva Agreement. It would be helpful if the UK could persuade India along these lines.

The Secretary commented that he assumed Mr. Lloyd’s immediately preceding remarks did not imply that the UK would favor a conference after Vietnamese elections in March. The Secretary repeated his statement that the resumption of a conference would have dangerous possibilities and he doubted whether the US would attend.2 Mr. Lloyd assured the Secretary that he meant to imply no such thing. His view was negative regarding a conference but positive for genuinely free elections.

[Here follows discussion on SEATO (see Document 80), on China, and on Chinese representation in the United Nations (see volume III, page 286).]

  1. Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199. Secret. No drafting information is given on the source text. The minutes were cleared at the Assistant Secretary of State level and distributed on February 7 on a need-to-know basis.

    Foreign Minister Lloyd accompanied Prime Minister Eden to Washington for talks with Eisenhower, Dulles, and other U.S. officials, January 30–February 1. Briefing materials for these discussions are ibid., Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 647.

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  2. Dulles made the statement earlier in the meeting; see vol. I, p. 628.↩