Office of the Historian

310.361/6–2551: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Gifford) to the Secretary of State

secret   priority
London, June 25, 1951—7 p. m.

6800. 1. At urgent request from FonOff Jebb, UKUN, has cabled to foll effect re Malik broadcast:

(a)
Statement seriously meant;
(b)
Doubtless made after consultation with CPG but CPG completely disassociated as officially they not belligerents;
(c)
Intention perhaps arrange mtg between US and USSR; if mtg fruitful, then CPG may be brought in;
(d)
Failure consult Malik as to meaning might give USSR propaganda advantage;
(e)
Malik probably wld not wish talk to Entezam or even Indian reps UN, much less to Trygve Lie;
(f)
Suggest convenient opportunity approach Malik afforded at SC dinner to be given by him Thursday.1

2. Dept has doubtless seen report People’s Daily (official organ CCP) has strongly endorsed Malik broadcast. Broadcast likewise warmly supported by London Daily Worker. These facts wld seem to indicate consultation with CPG and party line well established in advance broadcast.

3. Judging from general round-up FonOff opinion it seems too early attempt assess meaning Malik move. Obviously west cannot take it for granted Malik insincere. Broadcast cleverly timed to follow immed after break-up of mtgs in Paris.2 It enables USSR continue pose sponsor world peace. If any Malik-west conversations fruitful, USSR can show it took lead in bringing them about; if otherwise, blame will of course be laid to lack of sincerity of western nations. FonOff notes Vishinsky probably remains indisposed and therefore any conversations in Moscow this subject wld perforce be with Gromyko, thus extending familiar fruitless runaround, with Gromyko continuing control situation.

Gifford
  1. June 28; for a report on Mr. Gross’s talk with Malik at the dinner, see telegram Unmis 47, June 29, from New York, p. 590.↩
  2. The conference of Deputies of the Foreign Ministers adjourned on June 21 after 74 sessions without having achieved its basic purpose of drawing up an agenda for a Conference of Foreign Ministers meeting; for related documentation, see vol. iii, Part 1, pp. 1086 ff.↩