Memorandum of Conversation

STATE SECRET PF APR17 1951 DEPARTMENT OF STATE Dx/Rful DIVISION OF mecomers AND Memorandum of Conversation DATE: April 10, 1951 SUBJECT: Australian Suggestions with Respect to a Settlement in Korea. PARTICIPANTS: The Australian Ambassador, Mr. Makin Mr. David McNicol, First Secretary, Australian Embassy FE - Mr. Rusk BNA - Mr. Shullaw Bureau of FAR EASTERN AFFAIRS PR 1 1 1951 COPIES TO: FE EUR - Mr. Allen ASSISTANT SECRETARY NA BNA Department of State UNA American Embassy, Canberra EUR OK AR 1-1403 The Australian Ambassador, Mr. Makin, called on me today and briefly reviewed the points which he had made in his conversation with Mr. Merchant on April 9 concerning the possibility of a renewed effort to negotiate a settlement of the Korean question. Briefly the Ambassador said that his Government believed this might be the last opportunity for negotiating a settlement because hostilities might spread with the launching of another Chinese offensive. He mentioned two points in particular: the desirability of establishing contact with Peiping and of reaching agreement among ourselves on minimum political objectives in Korea and on other Far Eastern questions. In replying to the Ambassador's remarks, I mentioned the fact that in attempting to arrive at a agreed position with our friends, there was a tendency to move to our minimum position. The other side might attempt to halve the difference and the pressure would be on us to accept the "compromise", even though our basic position might be under- mined thereby. With respect to other Far Eastern problems, I said that it had always been our conviction that aggressors should not be permitted to charge a price for their aggression. The issue, I pointed out, remains aggression in Korea, and the Chinese Communists should not be permitted an opportunity to distort the issue so that it would appear the war was being waged for the purpose of preventing the seating of their repre sentatives in the UN, or over Formosa. 3524H xc DC/R X 028871 I told Anaila State Dept. Guidelines, March 6, 1982 Rev By DEB NLT, SEGRET I Rwd Cat