FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1950, VOLUME I


700.5611/4-350
Memnorandum of Conoersation, by Mr. Philip C. Jessup, Ambassador
                            at Large

TOP SECRET                            [WAsIINGTON,] April 3, 1950.
Subject: Negotiations with the U.S.S.R.
Paiticipants: Foreign Minister Lester B. Pearson (Canada)
               Ambassador Hume Wrong (Canada)1
               Mr. R. G. Riddell (Canada)2
               Mr. Dean Rusk
               Mr. Ernest Gross
               Mr. Philip C. Jessup
   One of the subjects which Mr. Pearson had put on the agenda for our
 informal discussions in New York Saturday and Sunday 3 was "The
 Cold War." 'The first aspect of the subj ect which he raised was the
 general problem of negotiations .with them and the means by which
 this could -be accomplished if it were desirable. The general Canadian
 attitude seemed to be that it would be desirable to keep on talking even
 though ,there were no great expectation of concrete results in the form
 of agreements. We pointed out that we had plenty of contacts and
 that again this was a case in which it was -the Russians who did not
 take advantage of the opportunities to talk, e.g., in all of the organs
 olf the' UN. While admitting ýhis, Pearson seemed to feel 'that 'from
 a public relations point of view we should frequently propose or ini-
 tiate conversations and let the Russians have the onus o-f turning them
 down.
   In this same context, we passed on to the question of the considera-
 tion of atomic energy and disarmament. Pearson felit it would be very
 desirable to resume talks on iatomic energy. He said 'there had never
 really been an exploration of the points ,which Vishinsky raised last
 fall.4 He was not sanguine that the Russians had anything in mind,
 but he seemed to be reflecting Canadian Parliamentary and ,popular
 opinion in suggesting the desirability that we should not only take
 a fresh look at our own proposals, particularly in terms of the question
 of "ownership," but that we should also find ways to continue
talks
 with the Russians on it. We discussed the possibility of getting over
 the procedural deadlock by having talks among Five Powers without

   Canadian Ambassador in the United States.
   Permanent Canadian Representative at the United Nations.
   April I-and 2.
   'In a discussion with Secretary Acheson and others in London on May 16,
   Pearson reiterated his concern regarding points raised by the Soviet Union
at
   the 1949 General Assembly; for memorandum of conversation by Acheson,
May 16,
   see p. 559.


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