60. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, August 25, 19551
SUBJECT
- Advance Consultation on Meetings of U. N. Subcommittee on Disarmament
PARTICIPANTS
- Mr. Harold E. Stassen
- Mr. Sergei Striganov, Chargé d’Affaires, Soviet Embassy
- Mr. Aleksandr Zinchuk, First Secretary, Soviet Embassy
- Mr. Edmund Gullion
- Captain Donald Gladney, USN
- Mr. Walter Stoessel, State Department
The Soviet representatives called at Governor Stassen’s request. Governor Stassen explained that the Secretary of State and the President desired him to consult with the Soviet representatives informally in advance of the meetings of the Subcommittee of the United Nations Disarmament Commission beginning on August 29.
Governor Stassen referred to the successful visit by the Soviet farm delegation to his own part of the country.2 Striganov reported that the Soviet Agricultural Mission was “very pleased” with its tour.
Governor Stassen said that it was his understanding that the next meeting of the Subcommittee was procedurally a continuation of the meetings which had been held earlier this year in London. According to the arrangements in effect, the chairmanship was to rotate and it was the turn of the USSR representative to take the chair for the opening New York meeting. Mr. Striganov confirmed that this was his understanding. The Governor indicated that the Subcommittee delegations would consult further to establish whether the first meeting would confine itself to ceremonial and procedural matters or would begin substantive discussion.
The Governor then stated that “in the spirit of Geneva” the U.S. Government would do its part to see that the meetings at New York would be marked by concrete and practical work which would enable us to make progress toward the goal of regulation and reduction of armaments.
He said that in conformity with the recommendations of the Heads of State meeting at Geneva, the United States Government assumed that each representative on the Subcommittee would present the proposals of his country on arms control. He noted that common to all of the proposals was an emphasis on the cardinal importance of [Page 186] inspection, although the various delegations did not have identical views on this point. The United States expected, therefore, that inspection would receive priority study in the Subcommittee meetings.
The United States would go into the question of inspection and would be prepared to explain and develop President Eisenhower’s Geneva proposals. Governor Stassen noted that Premier Bulganin had said that the Soviet Government would continue to study the President’s proposals. He stated that the United States, at the New York meetings and subsequently, would be glad to cooperate in such studies.
The Governor then noted that both premier Bulganin and President Eisenhower had found merit in the concept of reciprocal visits and technical exchanges between the USSR and the U. S. The recent trips of the agricultural missions were examples of successful operation in this field.
In the interest of facilitating agreement on the international control of armaments and armed forces, the United States was considering a plan for creation of technical panels of experts to test the various methods of inspection which might be employed in the control of arms and armed forces. This would involve limited test operations and reciprocal visits to specified sites within participating countries.
Governor Stassen then stated that pending further study and understanding of the role of inspection and of its capabilities and in view of the changing technological situation, the United States would consider positions it has taken heretofore in the U. N. and the Subcommittee as reserved and inactive. This means that we would not withdraw and not reaffirm the positions, but that many of them required new study in the light of the new aspects of the inspection program.
The Soviet Chargé inquired whether he correctly understood that the inspection panel idea would be discussed further at New York. Governor Stassen said that this was the case and in fact that the United States did not intend to make a formal proposal on this subject on the first day of the meeting.
The Soviet Chargé also inquired about the composition of the test inspection panels, whether they would be “mixed” or whether they would be “national” delegations.
Governor Stassen indicated that they would probably be mixed and that the membership would include members of the Subcommittee of the Disarmament Commission.
(In the course of the interview, the Soviet representatives repeated substantially these same inquiries two or three times and it was evident that the panel proposal particularly preoccupied them.)
[Page 187]With respect to informing the public about the progress of the meetings, Governor Stassen said that this was a matter for discussion among all the delegations. He thought that some consideration might be given to some arrangements for briefing the press like that used at Geneva. This, however, required further study.
Governor Stassen noted that the informal and social conferences at Geneva had proved productive. He was confident that this would also be true at New York. He would like to have some members of the Soviet Delegation as his guests at an early opportunity and suggested one o’clock luncheon on Monday, August 29th. He asked if the Charge knew when the full Soviet Delegation would arrive. Mr. Stassen said that Ambassador Sobolev, the USSR Representative to the United Nations, who would be “one” of his country’s principal representatives, would be in New York on the 26th. In response to the Governor’s question, he said that he did not know when all persons would arrive in New York for the Soviet Delegation. He undertook to inform his Government and Ambassador Sobolev promptly in view of Governor Stassen’s plans for an early meeting.
In conclusion, Governor Stassen reiterated United States willingness to cooperate in any further study by the USSR of President Eisenhower’s proposals. Mr. Striganov confirmed that he had understood this point. The Governor said that in the interests of a constructive meeting he had thought such advance consultation would be useful. Mr. Striganov expressed his appreciation of this initiative.