Office of the Historian

396.1 WA/7–353: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom 1

secret
Washington, July 3, 1953—6:19 p.m.

83. We have combined UK and French suggestions for subjects for discussion tripartite meeting2 and this morning handed Ambassadors here for comment suggested list subjects as follows:

1.
Europe:
a.
Evolution of Soviet policy and situation in satellite countries;
b.
European policy and German problems.
2.
Far East:
a.
Korea and questions relating to Communist China;
b.
Indochina.

French had suggested “Common Policy with Regard to Middle East” as item for tripartite discussion but we informed them we would prefer discuss this bilaterally if Bidault agreed (UK did not suggest this item for tripartites and Makins told us privately he did not believe UK would have much to say in tripartites on this.) Later today Bonnet informed us Bidault desires Middle East retained on tripartite agenda. We have concurred and have added item 3, “Near East Questions”, subject UK concurrence. Makins informed.

French suggestion re item 1 b was “German problem, European policy and consequences notably on military plans of envisaged solutions”. Revised wording above intended be sufficiently broad to allow Bidault present views any way he desires; however, Bonnet vague on [Page 1591] just what FonOff had in mind re European policy, etc. Would appreciate any light Embassy Paris may be able shed this and other items.3

We told British and French Ambassadors we expected Austria to be touched on briefly in context European policy and hoped have some reference Austria in communiqué. Also we indicated Secretary would wish raise in context German problems specific question war criminals.

Tentative schedule for meetings envisages tripartite afternoon July 10, morning July 11, afternoon July 13, and afternoon July 14; and bilaterals afternoon July 11, afternoon July 12, morning July 13, morning July 14. Makins put in bid for UK bilateral afternoon July 11 and Bonnet is inquiring if French bilateral July 12 satisfactory. Owing Bastille Day reception French Embassy morning July 14, we suggested French bilateral July 13 and UK bilateral July 14, which both Ambassadors thought acceptable. (Re bilaterals, UK suggested only Egypt and we added Buraimi.)

(So far, Indochina only subject we sure French wish discuss bilaterally.)

Smith
  1. This telegram, which was drafted by Galloway and cleared in substance by Knight and Hamilton, was also sent to Paris.↩
  2. On July 1, MacArthur had discussed with Sir Roger Makins the composition of the British Delegation and the agenda for the upcoming meetings. The British Ambassador had suggested a two-part agenda for the trilateral talks: (1) Europe, including the Soviet Union, Germany, and European organizations, and (2) the Far East and Southeast Asia, including Korea and Indochina. For the bilateral talks with the British, Makins had only one suggestion and that was Egypt. A memorandum of MacArthur’s conversation with Makins is in file 396.1 WA/7–153. Presumably a similar conversation took place with a representative from the French Embassy, but no record of it has been found in the Department of State files.↩
  3. In telegram 59 from Paris, July 4, Ambassador Dillon reported that the French wanted to be able to discuss under this item the possible repercussions on the Western European situation and the satellites if German reunification came suddenly. (396.1 WA/7–453)↩