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Repeat Washington, London, Paris, NATO Paris (Information).
My telegram 1537 contains the text of a draft resolution on
disarmament drafted by the USA
Delegation and presented to us this morning by Lodge at a meeting with the
UK, France and
ourselves.
Lodge hopes the four of us would sponsor it but intends to broaden the
basis of co-sponsorship as well. He would like
our comments by Monday if possible and would then like by
about Wednesday to show it to the Russians and ask them to
co-sponsor. No repeat no one was
very optimistic about Soviet willingness to do so, but all agreed this
was a useful gesture. The
Secretary General has not repeat not yet seen the draft but it was agreed
that Lodge might show
it to him. There seemed to be general agreement with the draft
although all present naturally reserved
their views pending further study. Georges-Picot noted that the
resolution seemed to have moved
pretty far away from last year's resolution and the package.
Noble and Ritchie questioned the
advisability of forcing on the Russians a reference to last year's
resolution, which they disliked
intensely. The UK are rather keen on getting Soviet agreement to or at
least acquiescence in a
resolution in order to help the atmosphere at Geneva. We thought the last two words in the resolution, as
appropriate, might rouse some suspicion
on the part of those who will be looking for evidence of a desire to bypass
the UN. It was
suggested that we might drop these words and refer to the UN rather than the
General Assembly,
as this phrase was intended to cover the fact that the Assembly was not
repeat not always in
session and we would not repeat not want to provoke a special
session.
The USA and UK are agreed in their desire to get through
the Assembly if possible without
much talk about substance and with no repeat no decisions on procedure beyond
continuation of
the Disarmament Commission pretty much as constituted. They are aware,
however, of the
opposition they may encounter from those anxious to assert the authority of
the UN and give
some direction on nuclear tests and other aspects of disarmament. We
mentioned to Morgan of
the UK our ideas about a committee to examine the UN organization on
disarmament. He
thought it a very useful idea to produce if necessary, that is, if they do
not repeat not get away
with the status quo. We are inclined to think that we might hold it in
reserve. If it should prove
possible to get by without a major row on machinery, we have no repeat no
special interest in
raising difficulties. We would certainly irritate our major friends if we
did so. On the other hand,
if we could produce this compromise scheme when they are running into rough
weather, they
might be grateful. The USA appear most anxious to help keep the UN role
in disarmament to a
minimum, at least for the ticklish period of negotiation now ahead of us.
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