Editorial Note

Secretary of State Acheson, British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, and French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman and their advisers held a series of meetings on world problems at London, May 11–13, 1950. In late April and early May, American, British, and French Representatives met in London for a series of preliminary meetings in preparation for the meetings of the Foreign Ministers. At a meeting on April 25 of American and British Representatives (reported upon in telegram Secto 12, April 25, from London), Ambassador at Large Philip Jessup, a principal officer in the American Delegation to these talks, explained American policy toward the Eastern European satellite nations as set forth in document FM D B–22a, April 11 (see page 14). At the same bilateral American-British meeting, the British Representative reviewed retaliatory measures taken or contemplated by his government against Eastern European diplomats. At a meeting of American, British, and French Representatives on April 28 (reported upon in telegram Secto 45, April 28, from London), there was a discussion of the possibilities for consultation and common action among the three governments in retaliation against the Eastern European governments. Charles E. Bohlen, Counselor of the Embassy in France and a principal officer in the American Delegation to these preliminary talks, summarized American policy toward Eastern Europe along the lines set forth in document FM D B–22a, April 11. At their first formal tripartite session on May 11 (reported upon in telegram Secto 230, May 11, from London), Secretary of State Acheson, Foreign Secretary Bevin, and Foreign Minister Schuman gave general agreement to a tripartite position paper (MIN/TRI/P/4, May 9) which included a section (iii) setting forth an agreed attitude to be adopted toward the Soviet Union and the Eastern European satellites. It was agreed that diplomatic relations with the satellite states should be maintained as long as feasible; that the three governments would keep in constant consultation [Page 31] concerning the general situation and the general attitude to be adopted toward the satellites; that if any of the three governments considered any major form of restriction on satellite or Soviet diplomatic missions, the three governments would consult and if possible arrange for all three to take similar action; and that all three governments would coordinate their propaganda to Eastern Europe.

The text of the messages and documents cited here are printed in volume III, pages 828 ff.