795.00/5–2451
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Rusk)
Subject: Korea
| Participants: | Baron Silvercruys, Belgian Ambassador |
| Dean Rusk, Assistant Secretary | |
| WE—R. M. Winfree |
The Belgian Ambassador called today at his request. He spoke about Korea and inquired as to whether the time was opportune for negotiations with the Chinese Communists to achieve a cease fire. I replied that as yet there had been no indication that the Chinese had departed from their original plan, namely, that UN troops would be driven out of Korea. Before any negotiations could be undertaken, they would first have to abandon this plan.
The Ambassador then wondered if it might not be well to put out some feelers to the Chinese to which I replied that if the Chinese wanted to get in touch with us, they had every opportunity to do so.
Baron Silvercruys then stated that he thought our attitude should [Page 455] not be one of passivity but should be one of action. I stated that if the Chinese registered any indication of desiring to talk about a cease fire, we would immediately hear of it. I did not believe that any further action should be taken until something had been heard from the Chinese regarding a cease fire.
The Ambassador then pressed his points at great length, obviously seeking information. He added several times in several different ways that we should take action to feel out the Chinese. I told the Ambassador that this was something on which I could not reply without consulting my colleagues.