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  4. Document 83

83. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, August 26, 19551

Washington, August 26, 1955

SUBJECT

  • NNSC

PARTICIPANTS

  • Mr. Schnyder, Counselor, Swiss Legation
  • Mr. Caillat, Third Secretary, Swiss Legation
  • Mr. von Sydow, Counselor, Swedish Embassy
  • Count Bielke, Second Secretary, Swedish Embassy
  • Mr. Robert J.G. McClurkin, Director, NA
  • Mr. William G. Jones, Officer in Charge, Korean Affairs, NA
  • Mr. Lancaster, EUR:WE
  • Mr. Crowley, BNA

In separate meetings with the Swiss and Swedes Mr. McClurkin informed them that the UN Command was being instructed to state in the Military Armistice Commission early next week that it had no objection to carrying out the NNSC proposal for reduction.2 It would [Page 155] be necessary, however, for the Command to go on and say that it regards this step as a temporary measure and that Communist frustration and obstruction had made dissolution of the Commission the only satisfactory solution.

Both the Swiss and Swedes appreciated being kept informed and stated that their Governments would be pleased to hear that this action was being taken. Mr. McClurkin was appreciative of the manner in which the Swiss and Swedes had attempted to carry out a difficult task at considerable expense and under unpleasant circumstances.

Mr. Schnyder asked how it had been possible to persuade Defense to accept the NNSC proposal. Mr. McClurkin pointed out that Defense still regarded the NNSC as a serious problem and that they had feared that acceptance of the proposal at an earlier stage would have created exactly the situation which recently developed in the ROK. We had no intention, however, of acting under duress and we felt the present situation to be most awkward since we, like the Swiss, sympathize with the ROK in their attitude toward the Czechs and Poles. Mr. Schnyder said that the Swiss did not expect this situation to last forever and believed that Bern would feel it easier to take the next move after reduction had been accomplished.

Mr. von Sydow said that he hoped there would be no more talk about abolition of the Commission until after (perhaps a week or so) the NNSC proposal had been accepted. He then asked about the general situation in the ROK with respect to the demonstrations. Mr. McClurkin said that following the firm action which we had taken things had quieted down somewhat and that after the NNSC proposal has been accepted we will point out to the ROK that continued demonstrations make further action very difficult.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 795.00/8–2655. Confidential. Drafted by Jones.↩
  2. The instruction to the Senior Member of UNCMAC was sent to CINCUNC for action in Department of Defense telegram DEF 987536, August 26. (Ibid., NA Files: Lot 59 D 407, Defense Cables Aug–Dec 1955) At the same time, the Embassy in Seoul was informed of the steps being taken to facilitate the termination of the NNSC. The Embassy was instructed to inform President Rhee of these steps on a confidential basis and to ask Rhee to stop the anti-NNSC demonstrations in Korea, since their continuation would make it difficult for the Swiss, the Swedes, or the U.N. Command to take further action under apparent duress. (Telegram 144 to Seoul, August 26; ibid., Central Files, 795.00/8–2655)↩