Office of the Historian

795.00/10–350: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

secret
priority
Moscow, October 3, 1950—6 p. m.
[Received October 3—12:23 p. m.]

814. Reference London’s telegram 1934, October 3, telegram from British Chargé Peiping received by British Embassy here about 1300 GMT.

Embassy officer has seen telegram, which in addition to information contained reftel, states Panikkar was called to Foreign Ministry at 0010 October 3 Peiping time, that Panikkar reports that Chou En Lai said American troops (but that this must be understood to mean UN troops), that Chou told Panikkar that he had reports that US troops already had crossed 38th line, that CPG was prepared to accept Indian position as described in Nehru’s September 30 press conference (but only if US troops did not cross 38th line), and that CPG can accept no settlement Korea unless CPG participates in such settlement.1

Department pass London, Delhi. Repeated info London 147, Delhi 42.

Kirk

  1. At a news conference held on September 30, Prime Minister Nehru had issued a prepared statement on Formosa and Korea which was transmitted to the Department in telegram 810, September 30, from New Delhi (not printed). The portion under reference dealing with Korea read as follows:

    “We are of opinion that every effort should be made to bring Korean war to conclusion and that it would be wrong to carry on military operations when peaceful methods can bring necessary results. Therefore we think United Nations forces should not go beyond 38th parallel till all other means of settlement have been explored. It is clear that objective in Korea should be a free and United Korea whose government is settled by will of the people. United Nations should see that this objective is given effect to.” (705.00/9–3050)

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