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DCER : Volume #19 - 592.DEA/50085-C-40 : MEETING OF COMMONWEALTH PRIME MINISTERS

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Volume #19 - 592.

CHAPTER VII

COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS

PART 1

MEETING OF COMMONWEALTH PRIME MINISTERS, LONDON, JUNE 3-10, 1953

592.

 DEA/50085-C-40

Extract from Telegram from High Commissioner in United Kingdom
to Secretary of State for External Affairs

TELEGRAM 1093

SECRET. IMPORTANT.

 London, June 4th, 1953

MEETING OF COMMONWEALTH PRIME MINISTERS

The first meeting took place as scheduled yesterday. Pickersgill and I accompanied the Prime Minister. Copy of the official minutes (subject, however, to correction by Prime Ministers if necessary) has gone forward to you by bag today. Following is a summary of the main points made during the discussion....

7. Mr. St. Laurent said that "when he had originally heard about the Bermuda meeting1 he had hoped it would lead to a subsequent meeting with the Soviet Union. The announcement of the Bermuda meeting itself had already had a very good effect in showing the world that there was no serious difference of view between the three allied powers concerned; and it was certainly necessary to hold such a conference with the President of the United States before any approach was made to the Soviet Government, since it would be necessary to persuade the President that a four power meeting was worthwhile. It was also desirable, whatever the disadvantages might be, to include the French in the Bermuda meeting, since it was right that one of the continental powers should be represented. Care should be taken to avoid the impression that the Bermuda meeting was an attempt to concert action against the Soviet Government; but, if the Russians wished to provide themselves with an excuse for causing a breakdown in a subsequent four power meeting or to refuse to take part in one, they would not find it difficult to invent some other pretext."

. . .


1

Voir le document 481, note 13./See Document 481n . 13.


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