Telegram from Acting Secretary of State Robert Lovett to Clark Clifford

NLT-495 U.S.S. WILLIAMSBURG URGENT U.S. Naval Gun Factory WASHINGTON 25, D.C. WHITE NR 41 141805Z TOP SEURET DEGLASSIFIED - E.O. 11652. Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) FROM : ACTING SECSTATE LOVETT DECT. of STATE LTR 1-18-73 TO : CLARK CLIFFORD FOR THE PRESIDENT By NLT - NARS Date 2-12-23 URGENT AND TOPSECRET EYESONLY FROM : PARIS TO : SECRETARY OF STATE EYES ALONE FOR LOVETT FROM JESSUP SECRETARY HAS APPROVED TEXT GIVEN BELOW AS US REPLY TO EVATT-LIE LETTER. SECRETARY ASKS THAT YOU TRANSMIT THEIR LETTER TO PRESIDENT AS WELL AS TEXT OF REPLY WHICH SECRETARY PROPOSES TO MAKE HERE AFTER COORDINATION WITH BRITISH AND FRENCH. IDENTICAL THREE POWER REPLIES ARE NOT CONTEMPLATED. IN VIEW OF EFFORT LEFTIST WING PROPAGANDA IN EUROPE, TO WHICH EVATT IS CONTRIBUTING, THAT PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY HAVE DIFFERENT ATTITUDES ON RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA, DULLES, BOHLEN AND I CONSIDER IT MOST IMPORTANT THAT REPLY BE APPROVED BY PRESIDENT PRIOR TO DISPATCH IN PARIS. WOULD APPRECIATE SOONEST POSSIBLE REACTION KEY WEST SINCE BRITISH AND FRENCH ARE NOW THINKING OF REPLY ABOUT TUESDAY. TEXT FOLLOWS: ***ATIONAL ES AND RECORDS "SIRS, SERVICE" ROVERNIN I HAVE THE HONOR TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF YOUR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 13, 1948, WHICH I HAVE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES WANTS A SOLUTION OF THE BERLIN QUESTION. IT CONTINUES TO SEEK SUCH A SOLUTION THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS. WE HAVE SUPPORTED THE EFFORTS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND ITS PRESIDENT TO REMOVE THE DANGER TO THE PEACE ARISING FROM THE SOVIET BLOCKADE OF THE WESTERN SECTORS OF BERL IN. I DESIRE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ASSURE YOU THAT THIS REMAINS OUR COURSE AND OBJECTIVE. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES REMAINS READY TO CARRY OUT LOYALLY THE RESOLUTION PROPOSED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND STANDS BY ITS EXPRESSED WILL INGNESS TO BE GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLES EMBODIED THEREIN. THE RESOLUTION PROPOSED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF ARGENTINA, BELGIUM, CANADA, CHINA, COLOMBIA, AND SYRIA WAS A SINCERE AND STATÉSMAN-LIKE EFFORT TO BRING ABOUT A SETTLEMENT. THAT RESOLUTION WAS ACCEPTED BY ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL EXCEPT THE SOVIET UNION AND ITS MEMBER REPUBLIC THE UKRAINE.