Memorandum of Conversation with Sir Carl Berendsen, George Laking, John D. Hickerson, U. Alexis Johnson, Ward Allen, and David Popper

NET(KOREA/EQ). 2505,44 DEPARTMENT OF STATE Copy 4 of 9 copies MA Memorandum of Conversation Book DATE: TOP APCRET SECURITY INFORMATION. December 21, 1951 (Dictated December 26, 1951 SUBJECT: Proposed Joint Statement on "Greater Sanction" PARTICIPANTS: Sir Carl Berendsen, New Zealand Ambassador G. R. Laking, Counselor, Embassy of New Zealand John D. Hickerson, Assistant Secretary, UNA Mr. U. Alexis Johnson, FE Mr. Ward P. Allen, EUR Mr. David H. Popper. UNP FAR EASTERN AFFAIRS or Bureau COPIES TO: DCR DEC S/S ASSISTANT FE Department ,ECRETAMY of State EUR BNA U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16-61120-1 Sir Carl called at my request for a discussion of the aide-memoire presented to the Department by the New Zealand Embassy on December 20 (copy attached). I went over the text of the aide-memoire with Sir Carl, disposing of the principal points which it raised. with regard to the fear of the New Zealand Government that the joint statement might be provocative, I pointed out that the statement could not prevent the conclusion of an armistice because it would not be issued until after the armistice was signed. Moreover, I emphasized that we regarded the statement as a sober warning to the Chinese Communists so that there might be no misunderstanding of our attitude. We considered the statement a precautionary step which might well keep the Communists from blundering into general war. with regard to the possible adverse reaction of the Asian countries, I remarked that we hoped and believed that Asiatic public opinion would understand the statement in the way which I had indicated. We would do everything we could to convince all nations that, as loyal United Nations Members, we would not violate an armistice to which we had agreed. If the Communists also accepted the armistice in good faith, our statement would never have to be invoked. As DECLASSIFIED 1951 Authority Fleus VOLVII 1408-1409 By DOB NLT Date 3-5-66