Memorandum of Conversation with Hume Wrong, John D. Hickerson, U. Alexis Johnson, and Mr. Raynor

TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION NCT(KOREA/SO) 543 DEPARTMENT OF STATE (5) Memorandum of Conversation DATE: December 17, 1951 SUBJECT: Declaration by the 16 States participating in Korean Military Action PARTICIPANTS: Ambassador Wrong, Canadian Embassy Mr. Hickerson, Assistant Secretary, UNA Mr. Johnson, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, FE Mr. Raynor, Director, BNA Bureau of COPIES TO: EUR - Mesars. Perkins and Bonbright FAR EASTERN AFFAIRS Mr. Hickerson, UNA Mr. Johnson, FE DEC 20 1951 Mr. Raynor, BNA ASCISTANT SECRETARY Department of State u. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16-61120-1 Ambassador Wrong called this afternoon at my request. I told him as I had informed him a few days ago we wanted to consult directly with the Canadians on this question and we felt the time had now arrived to do so. I explained in some detail why we felt it was necessary to issue a statement of warning which we hoped would be issued by the 16. I said we felt this would be necessary even if we would be able to get much stronger inspection arran ements than we will be able to get. I explained the philosophy behind this, i.e., the large number of troops in Northern Korea which would remain there, the supplies which were now there which would permit the initiation of an of ensive, the fact that during an armistice a build-up could take place in Manchuria and the Communists could repair rail and highway transport; all this would place them in a position in which they could initiate and maintain a surprise offensive. I then explained to Ambassador Wrong we had not reached agreement with the UK on a statement and I reviewed the differences in our con- cluding paragraph. I said we were now attempting to work out a draft which would reconcile the two existing drafts and that we would give this to the Canadians as well as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa at the same time we gave it to the Fritish. I said that his government would thus have an opportunity to make suggestions and participate in the development of a final statement. Ambassador/ TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION DECLASSIFIED E.O. 13526 Authority RAC3/14/12 NOTKOREAN WAR-53-18-3 NARA JO Date 215/13