Office of the Historian

460.509/8–3153: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State1

secret
London, August 31, 1953—7 p.m.

894. Excon.

1.
Embassy understands CG meeting end October early November being considered in Washington for purpose explaining NSC policy statement (CA–910, August 212). Further understand that, if such meeting scheduled preliminary US-UK bilateral talks would be held early October.
2.
Instead of waiting until operational details new policy are decided upon, suggest Embassy be informally authorized reveal substance new policy to Foreign Office immediately taking following general line:
(a)
Official statement future US policy has been adopted;
(b)
Details of future action deriving from policy now being worked out in Washington;
(c)
US desires CG meeting end October early November for presentation policy and program to PCS. Before CG meeting US would appreciate opportunity discuss policy and derivative programs with UK bilaterally in order achieve maximum US-UK understanding;
(d)
Embassy would informally suggest that if UK has in mind drastic control reductions it withhold them pending such bilateral talks.
3.
Embassy feels above approach at this time called for by following: [Page 1015]
(a)
US should keep UK informed such major developments as matter of course and UK certain to welcome new policy.
(b)
A frank statement of this new policy along lines paragraph 1 above, if made well prior September 15 opening of list II talks, may well lead UK to review or not push vigorously any proposals which they realize would be strongly resisted by US. Fullest and promptest disclosure will accomplish best results.
4.
Embassy still hopes have more definite information UK intentions on list II, but would appreciate Department comments soonest.3
Aldrich
  1. Also sent to Paris.↩
  2. Not printed, but see footnote 2, supra.↩
  3. In telegram 1133 to London, Sept. 1, 1953, the Department of State concurred in Ambassador Aldrich’s recommendation that he be permitted to reveal the substance of NSC 152/2 to the Foreign Office. (460.509/8–3153)↩