Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, United Nations and General International Matters, Volume II

171. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations¹

Washington, September 19, 1960—12:48 p.m.

433. Secretary and Lord Home agreed on following re strategy and tactics at General Assembly at meeting September 18.²

1. Useful for Macmillan to come over during week of September 26 and speak perhaps on September 30 or October 3.

2. Macmillan–Khrushchev meeting in US would not necessarily cause difficulties with American public opinion if properly presented.

3. Useful for Menzies to come over and answer Khrushchev at earlier date than Macmillan. Lord Home will ask Macmillan to see what he can do to stimulate Menzies’ attendance.

4. Might be useful for Diefenbaker and Ayub to attend and also to answer Khrushchev earlier than Macmillan. However, Ayub already in exposed position and might have domestic problems.

5. Closest liaison between US-UK Delegations in NY is essential. On publicity aspects Glass³ and Berding should concert in NY on Monday.

6. Two Delegations should consult Monday regarding specific tactics and publicity by which time Khrushchev may have tipped his hand.⁴

7. Desirable terminate special General Assembly by Monday; not desirable for special General Assembly and regular General Assembly to run simultaneously.

8. US and UK should start lobbying immediately in General Committee to forestall any Soviet effort to obtain agreement to sessions of Committee One, possibly on disarmament, concurrently with general debate.

9. If Khrushchev introduces resolution on disarmament US and UK should consult together immediately on whether to move to refer matter to Committee of Ten.

10. Hold in abeyance decision on stand to be taken if considerable support develops for enlargement of Committee of Ten.

11. Experts to draft on contingency basis possible resolution on Germany and Berlin for introduction in Security Council. Difficulties with French anticipated.

Herter

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320/9–1960. Top Secret; Niact; Eyes Only. Drafted by Burdett on September 18; cleared by Merchant, Bohlen, Stoessel, Kohler, and Krebs; and approved by Burdett who signed for Herter. Sent also priority eyes only to Wadsworth and to Barbour, Minister of the Embassy in London.
2. A memorandum of this conversation is ibid., 320/9–1860.
3. Presumably Leslie Charles Glass, Director General of British Information Services in the United States.
4. No record of this meeting has been found.