Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, the Ambassador of the Union of South Africa, and Mr. Satterthwaite

000670 SECRET DEPARTMENT OF STATE 20 Memorandum of Conversation DATE: July 24, 1950. 201 SUBJECT: Active Assistance for Korea. PARTICIPANTS: Ambassador Jooste, Union of South Africa The Secretary Mr. Satterthwaite, BNA DECLASSIFIED COPIES TO: FE Authority NLT- 78.49 G - Mr. Matthews American Embassies, London By Hu NLT Date 5.17.79 Wellington Ottawa Karachi 1-1493 Ambassador Jooste called at his request and said that in ac- cordance with the latest appeal from the Secretary General of the United Nations for active assistance in Korea, he was taking up directly with the Secretary the latest views of the Union Government on this question. The Ambassador said he had kept the Union Govern- ment informed of the views of the United States on the question of active assistance for Korea and added' that he had been asked to reiterate the Union's support to the Security Council's Resolution and to express the Union's admiration of the courageous defense offered by the American forces. The Union Government feels, how- ever, although Korea may remain an isolated situation, the possi- bility of other acts of aggression, as exploratory probes, cannot be ruled out. The Union Government, for various considerations, and and AND feels that it would be most unvise to weaken its position by sending the forces to Korea. These considerations are: 1. The existence of the secret commitment of South Africa in the event of war with Russia to sanction Union forces operating in all parts of Africa in defense of that Continent. 2. Strategic position of South Africa in the event of war. 3. Inadequacy DEBLASSIFIES E. O. 11652 Sec. KE) and 5(D) or (E) GSIFIED Dept. of State detter, 9, 1973 By NLT- WARS Date SECRET Authority , By k.