Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Korea, Volume VII

795.00/6–2950

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy United States Representative on the United Nations Security Council (Ross)¹

confidential

[new york,] June 29, 1950.

Subject: Korea

Participants:	Sir Gladwyn Jebb—British Delegation
	Sir Terence Shone—British Delegation
	Ambassador Warren A. Austin—USUN
	Ambassador Ernest A. Gross—USUN
	Mr. John C. Ross—USUN

Jebb called to pay his respects and there was very general and tentative discussion for about an hour of the various aspects of the Korean matter.

Jebb agreed that the Military Staff Committee should not be used and expressed strong views against this. We read the paper which Ambassador Chauvel had just sent to the Mission and which was telephoned to the Department and agreed that this was a very undesirable approach.²

Jebb said his Government shared his view that from the propaganda viewpoint it was essential that this matter be considered as a United Nations and not a United States operation.

There was considerable discussion of the possible need of machinery. Gross explained that this question was under review in the Department, which was not very favorably inclined towards the establishment of machinery. We gave to Jebb in confidence and as a Mission working paper a copy of the short draft resolution³ prepared in the Mission (and telephoned to the Department) which would establish a committee of the Security Council consisting of nine named members (those which approved the resolution of 27 June). Jebb thought that if there were to be a committee of the Security Council it should be composed of civilians. He thought such a committee might concern itself not only with the military aspects of assistance to Korea but also with such economic work as might be necessary. He referred in this connection to the last paragraph of Article 48, mentioning in this regard the specialized agencies.

On the legal aspect of the action taken by the Security Council, Jebb said this matter had been very thoroughly considered in London and that the United Kingdom Government agreed with what he understood was our view, namely, that the Security Council action was taken pursuant to Article 39 of the Charter.

Ambassador Austin asked Jehb’s view concerning possible application of Articles 51 and 106. Jebb said the British had considered these two articles in their review of the legal issue and felt that Article 51 was inapplicable and that Article 106 was weak rather than strong.

Gross read to Jebb Kirk’s telegram reporting on his interview with Gromyko and the Soviet response to our note.⁴ Jebb observed this seemed to indicate the Russians did not want, at this point at any rate, to become directly involved.

John C. Ross

1. The source text is a copy of a document in the 10 files, Department of State, bearing the designation US/S/1270 and the date July 3, 1950.
2. The text of the paper was sent to the Department in telegram 561, June 29, from New York, not printed. It pointed to the need for the designation by the Security Council of a body to organize and coordinate contributions by United Nations member states to the effort in Korea, indicating that the body should be the Military Staff Committee or an ad hoc organization, preferably the latter (330/6–2950).
3. Not printed.
4. Telegram 1767, June 29, from Moscow, received at 1:02 p. m., p. 229.