741.022/1–1151: Telegram

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

top secret
niact

3858. Embtel 3842, January 11.

1.
At Prime Ministers’ meeting this morning there was general agreement negotiations could not go on until cease-fire had been arranged. In so informing UK UN delegation, Foreign Office suggested possible compromise might be for a committee (on which CPG as well as US would participate) to be set up and held in readiness for negotiations immediately cease-fire effective.
2.
Meeting also considered two points raised by Gross, USUN: (a) feasibility of placing time limit on reply by CPG to Entezam Committee and (b) if committee’s efforts fail, will CPG be named an aggressor?
3.
With regard to (a) general agreement this would not be feasible as it would be interpreted by CPG as amounting to an ultimatum.
4.
With regard to (b) all Prime Ministers doubtful and some definitely opposed. Those who could be induced to acquiesce would only do so from desire meet US wishes.
Gifford