Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume XII, Part 1

790.5/5–1854: Telegram

The Under Secretary of State (Smith) to the Department of State¹

top secret
priority

Geneva, May 18, 1954—5 p.m.

Dulte 84. Re Dulte 83.² Eden handed me following copy draft terms of reference for Five-Power military staff talks which he is submitting to London. I believe they are generally acceptable and would appreciate Department’s views as soon as possible.

Begin verbatim text

1. Venue—start in Washington, with the right to move elsewhere later, e.g., Singapore, if found advantageous.

2. Terms of reference—the Five-Power Staff Agency representatives will undertake military planning studies in order to recommend possible courses of action to enable an effective line of resistance to further Communist aggression or infiltration in Southeast Asia to be established. They would examine all possible courses of action in the light of the current situation and of the known capabilities of the anti-Communist countries concerned in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific.

3. Informing participating and non-participating powers.

(a) Participating powers.

Australia and New Zealand to be informed in Geneva by UK. France to be informed by US–UK in Geneva.

(b) Non-participating powers.

US Government to inform Siam and Philippines.

HMG to inform Colombo powers and Canada.

Non-participating powers to be informed that the object of the exercise is “to examine without commitment the various contingencies with which we may be faced, including practical means of help for those nations of SEA who may call for it”.³ This was the wording used in the House of Commons, and we would prefer it to the wording proprosed by Washington, which was “to explore means by which the Five Powers can assist the countries of Southeast Asia in a cooperative effort to defend themselves”.⁴

Comment: I see no objection to British taking this line with Colombo powers, but believe we should feel free to inform Thailand and Philippines as we deem best. End comment.⁵

4. Start of Meetings—first meeting to be called by US military authorities in Washington through normal military channels.

5. Publicity—no public announcement at the beginning of the talks, and no information to be given to the press as the talks proceed.⁶ Questions to be answered on the lines already taken in the House of Commons (see above) if there is a leakage. End verbatim text.

Smith

1. Repeated for information to London and Paris, marked “eyes only Ambassador”.
2. From Geneva, also dated May 18. A portion reads: “At lunch today Eden informed me he had received authorization from London to go ahead with five-power military staff talks.” (790.5/5–1854)
3. Wording in substance similar to that quoted here is in statements made in the House of Commons on May 10, by John Selwyn Lloyd, Minister of State in the Foreign Office, and on May 17 by Prime Minister Churchill. For texts, see Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, 5th Series, vol. 527, cols. 832–833 and 1692–1694, respectively.
4. The quotation is from NSC Action No. 1112, May 8, transmitted in telegram Tedul 48, May 9, p. 466.

5. In his memorandum of a conversation with the President on May 19, Dulles wrote:

   “I mentioned to the President the cable from Bedell Smith (Dulte 84) with reference to five-power military talks at Washington. The President concurred in Smith’s suggestion that the British could report informally to the Colombo powers as they proposed leaving us to inform Thailand and the Philippines as we deemed best.” (Eisenhower Library, Dulles papers, “Meetings With the President”)

   A longer extract from the memorandum is printed in vol. xiii, Part 2, p. 1583.

6. Telegram Tedul 88 to Geneva, May 19, marked “For Under Secretary from Secretary” and drafted by O’Connor and MacArthur, reported:

   “A news ticker report from London indicates British sources have informed the press there re agreement on five-power talks. In view of firm UK agreement set forth in Dulte 84 that there would be no publicity whatsoever and no announcement to the press I find this development most disheartening. Unless you perceive objection, please mention this to Eden and tell him ticker report on information given out in London arrived at precise time that President was going over his proposal which specifically stated nothing would be said to press.” (790.5/5–1954)