Memorandum

99 JORET August 29, 1951 MEMORANDUM The following comments refer to the memorandum of August 6 left with the Department by the British Embassy. 1. We agree wholeheartedly with the United Kingdom view that we must firmly maintain that any political discussions after a cease- fire must in the first instance be confined to Korea alone. (Paras 2,3). This we take to mean that unless there were agreement on a political settlement in Korea, discussion of other Far Eastern questions would not take place in any conference. 2. The answer to the United Kingdom's specific question (Para 4) is that the United States Government would be prepared after a cease-fire to hold political discussions on a settlement in Korea which might include in some appropriate way the Chinese Communists and the North Koreans. The United States does not recognize either of these regimes as legally constituted governments, but would be prepared to have them participate in multilateral discussions about a Korean settlement which, as a practical matter, cannot be solved without their agreement. 3. In regard to the proper method for bringing about a Korean settlement, we agree that the Lie proposal for a mediator is not likely to be acceptable to the Communists and would achieve no practical results. The United Nations Commission idea is sub ject to the same objection. Experience has shown that direct discussions with the Communists offer the best 1f not the only hope of solution. We do not, however, favor the alternatives preferred by the United Kingdom. The Five-Power or Seven Power conference reflects an approach, similar to that of the United Kingdom proposal made last April, which contemplates a solution of the Korean problem by the Great Powers, without any participation by the United Nations or by other countries vitally interested in the Pacific such as Australia, New Zealand and the philippines, and at most DECLASSIFIED STATE 4.25.79 PROTECT art 28-13 NARS, Date 7-24-79 SECRET