396.1 BE/2–1854: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Department of State
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Dulte 87. For Acting Secretary from Secretary. Re Dulte 86.1 Bidault is instructed by Cabinet to accept this latest Soviet offer and we consider it acceptable in itself apart from necessity avoiding break with France which would imperil both Indochina and EDC.
(1) Principle of no five power conference is upheld; (2) there is no promotion of Communist China to position of authority and prestige; (3) we are negotiating with Communist China only on de facto basis in relation to concrete local problems of war and peace where that regime is a necessary party; (4) composition for Korea is as we sought and India is excluded; and (5) our choice of place is accepted.
I have emphasized to Bidault that prospect of conference on Indochina will increase Communist effort for knock out this season and must be met with corresponding determination to win good negotiating position.
- Telegram Dulte 86 from Berlin, Feb. 17, contained the text of a Soviet revision of a British draft of that portion of the Final communiqué of the Berlin Conference. (396.1 BE/2–1754) For text of the pertinent portion of the Final Communique, issued Feb. 18, see infra. For full documentation on the negotiations at Berlin, see volume vii.↩