Telegram from Ambassador Stanley Woodward to Secretary of State Dean Acheson

30 INCOMING TELEGRAM Department of State TELEGRAPH BRANCH 4 PLAIN A Action Control: 13982 Rec'd: April 28, 1951 EUR FROM: Ottawa 4:42 doul. SEEN Info TO: Secretary of State SS G NO: 265, April 27. P SAM FE On April 26 External Affairs Min Pearson said in reply CCF UNA question in House of Commons regarding "announcement" enemy USUN air bases in Manchuria will be attacked if Chinese Commies use OLI heavy air power against UN troops: CIA ARMY "I would say that so far as the govt is aware, no announcement AIR on the subject has been made. The Hon Member is presumably NAVY referring to a report in this morning's newspapers which is IE attributed to a spokesman for the US delegation at Lake Success. PA However, I am very glad to have this opportunity of making a DCR brief statement of the govt's position in regard to this matter. "Some 5 months ago the govt informed the US Govt, in response to an inquiry from that govt -- they brought the matter up -- that, though a strong case cld be made under international law that the UN Commander in Chief had the right to. retaliate against any air attacks launched from Manchuria, we considered it important as indeed did other govts, that no military operations take place outside Korean borders without specific authority from the UN. Since that time various aspects of the Korean operations have been the subject of discussions in Washington, as indeed I have indicated previously in the House, among representatives of the countries having forces in Korea. "So far, however, the Canadian Govt has received no request for concurrence in any proposal to authorize UN retaliation upon enemy air bases outside Korea, probably for the very good reason that there have been no massive enemy air bombing from Manchuria. If there is such air intervention, for the consequences of which the Chinese Commies would have to bear full responsibility, it is our view that thosecountries with forces in Korea, and participating in military operations there, should be consulted in regard to the implications of that action - that is, air bombing - and in regard to any retaliatory action which may be required to meet it. "However, it is of course possible to visualize a situation where immediate retaliatory action, without consultation, might be unavoidable in pursuing enemy bombers back to the Manchurian air base from which they came. The decision on the spot to take such immediate retaliatory action would presumably be based on overriding considerations of military security. "In any PLAIN REPRODUCTION OF THIS MESSAGE IS PROHIBITED