82. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Gray) and the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Sebald), Washington, August 24, 19551
SUBJECT
- Termination of NNSC Activities in the ROK
Pursuant to instructions from the Secretary, I called Gordon Gray for the purpose of obtaining Department of Defense clearance to Course “B” in the attached paper2 which had been approved by the Secretary. I told Mr. Gray that the Secretary had approved the proposal (a copy of which had been informally sent to him previously) and that we desired to have his concurrence so that we could move ahead with implementing this policy.
Mr. Gray questioned some of the language but, in the light of a previous conversation which I had had with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Vice Admiral Arthur C. Davis, said that he would not make a point of insisting upon any language changes— providing paragraph 3 of the proposal means that the NNSC will be given notice to terminate its activities no later than October 15, 1955. Additionally, he wished to be assured that the proposal was not contingent upon agreement by the sixteen other countries and that the United States was now prepared to move ahead unilaterally, if necessary. One additional request which he wished to make was that the Swiss and Swedes be informed of our desire that they endeavor to [Page 154] prevent any request being made by the NNSC for spot inspections in South Korea before October 15.
I told Mr. Gray that the date October 15, 1955 did, in fact, represent the terminal date by which time the NNSC would terminate its activities in ROK territory. Secondly, although we would inform The Sixteen of the action to be taken, the proposal was not contingent upon concurrence by The Sixteen. Finally, I agreed that we would endeavor to carry out the request regarding the prevention of spot inspections but would, necessarily, have to make this in the form of a suggestion rather than a request.
Mr. Gray said that he was satisfied with these replies and was glad to give his concurrence. He felt that we had come a long way to meet the wishes of the Department of Defense and hoped that this troublesome problem would soon be ended.