Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

NLT(Naval Aide) 168 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON Dept. 6, 1982 E.O. February 7, 1951 State By DEB NLT, Date 9-4-85 SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS UNITED KINGDOM Embassy London reports that the extent of Labor Party worry about today's Parlia- mentary vote on steel nationalization has been revealed by the publication of an exchange of letters dated February 5 between Attlee and Churchill. In the letter Attlee requested a pair for a Labor member on official busi- ness in South Africa and indicated that unless a pair could be arranged he had no alternative but to recall the individual for the vote. The Embassy believes that the Government may, however, be aided by a possible Liberal split. Although the Liberals have consistently voted against nationalization of steel, they met yesterday without reaching a decision on today's vote. It is also reported that Lady Megan Lloyd-George and at least one other Liberal are not willing to contribute to the fall of the Government and efforts may be made to obtain Liberal unanimity on a basis of all abstain- - ing. The most recent Gallup Poll has showed 51 percent of the population in favor of the Conservatives and only 38 percent for Labor. The Conser- - vatives are convinced that a defeat of the Government and a general elec - tion would result in a decisive victory for them. MEETING OF The conference of Ambassadors now meeting FOREIGN MINISTERS in Frankfort has commented that the attack in the latest Soviet note on the general build-up of western defense as contrasted to German rearmament alone affords an excellent opportunity for a vigorous response from the western allies plac - ing the matter in proper perspective and turning world attention to the gener- al aggressive attitude of the Soviets and their excessive military strength in being. The conference believes that the time has arrived when we should adopt a positive approach by clearly identifying the basic causes of tension and full Soviet responsibility. We must point out that the question of Ger- - man disarmament or any other question involving Germany must be dealt with in relation to those broad issues which have created the specific prob- lems to which the Soviets now wish to limit the discussion. Inasmuch as the Soviets have mentioned that the allies have not stated precisely what they consider to be the causes of international tension, the conference believes it important to list these principle causes with ample details and examples.