102.201/5–2951
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Nitze)
Subject: State–JCS Meeting
| Participants: | General Bradley | Admiral Lalor |
| General Haislip | Colonel Baer | |
| General Twining | Colonel Carns | |
| Admiral Sherman | Mr. Matthews | |
| General Taylor | Mr. Nitze | |
| General White | Mr. Rusk | |
| Admiral Duncan | Mr. Harriman |
[Here follows a discussion of Yugoslavia and of developments in Korea; see page 470.]
Admiral Sherman then raised the question of a U.N. naval blockade with respect to China. He said that 7 ships were on the way to China with what might be called contraband. He said 39 Panamanian ships, largely owned by Greeks, were engaged in the China trade. General Bradley suggested that the best way to enforce the embargo was to get the British to do so through Hong Kong, Admiral Sherman said that this was a seamy business and that he was coming around to the view that an honest-to-God naval blockade would be advisable. General Bradley said he thought we should attempt to solve the problem in the way we were, if that were possible; otherwise, additional measures might be necessary. Mr. Rusk suggested the possibility of an association to enforce our own regulations. Admiral Sherman said that he didn’t think this would be good enough. One must make it bite on Indochina, the Panamanian ships, etc. Mr. Rusk said that the U.N. naval blockade would not be possible until after further political moves in the direction of negotiations had been given a chance.