MEMORANDA OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN SECRETARY RUSK AND BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY PATRICK GORDON WALKER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000400090007-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 14, 2003
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: October 27, 1964
• Content Type: MF

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE WASHINGTON
Execu a T,c i:ap
SECRET Enclosures
October 27, 1964
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. L/YMAN B. KIRKPATRICK /k.
Subject: Memoranda of Conversation Between
Secretary Rusk and British Foreign
Secretary Patrick Gordon Walker
Enclosed for the information of Mr. McCone are
copies of the summary memoranda of Secretary Rusk's
conversations with British Foreign Secretary Patrick
Gordon Walker on October 26. These memoranda have
not been cleared by Secretary Rusk.
Be, Tani f I . Re y
Execbtive Secretary
Enclosures:
As stated.
State Department review
completed
SECRET Enclosures
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Summary Memorandum of Conversation Between
Secretary of State Rusk and British Foreign Secretary Gordon Walker
October 26, 1964, 10:00 a. m.
Scope
Secretary Rusk told Gordon Walker he thought the most
important aspect of these talks, which necessarily would be of a
preliminary nature, would be to leave the impression that U. S. -
UK cooperation would be maintained.. This relationship was an
important stabilizing factor in the world today. It was agreed there
should be no communique regarding the talks.
U.K Balance of Payments
Mr. Gordon Walker went over the measures the British Govern-
ment is taking to deal with the UK balance of payments crisis. The
Secretary said we appreciated the new Government thought some action
was necessary. We were pleased that the measures were non-
discriminatory and that there had been no increase in the bank rate.
Southern Rhodesia
The Foreign Secretary explained what action HMG is taking to
try to head off a unilateral declaration of independence by Southern
Rhodesia. Unless the Southern Rhodesian Prime Minister agreed not
to make a unilateral declaration, the British Government would tomorrow
issue a strong statement warning the white Southern Rhodesians of the
grave consequences. This would be an attempt to rally those elements
of the white population opposed to unilateral action to resist Prime
Minister Smith. Secretary Rusk told Gordon Walker that we would
certainly support British policy in this case and would want to follow
the British lead.
C rus
There was a review of the Cyprus situation, particularly in
regard to the forthcoming UN consideration of the problem. The
British agreed that the UN forces should be kept in Cyprus and that
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the General Assembly should not be used for the purpose of tearing
up the treaty governing the relationship between the parties involved.
Both the U. S. and the UK intend to talk with UN mediator Galo P1wza
as it has been reported by the press that he intends to offer his
recommendation for a solution to the Cyprus problem to the Security
Council. This would be most unhelpful as he apparently sees the
situation on the island as Makarios does.
Nasser
There was a preliminary review of Middle East questions.
Gordon Walker said that the Labor Government would be closer to the
U. S. on the question of how to deal with Nasser than had been the
previous government. The British have made some overtures to Nasser
but certain problems remain to be settled before there can be a real
rapprochement. The Labor Government does not oppose our present
policy of aid to the UAR.
Yemen. - South Arabian Federation
Gordon Walker said he was still sorting out his thoughts on the
Yemen problem but did not plan any immediate recognition of the
Republican Government. He is considering what should be done with
the South Arabian Federation which does not appear to him to have the
makings of a viable state. His thought at the moment is that the British
should try to keep their base at Aden.
Middle East - General
The British would like to come to terms with Arab nationalism
but not at the expense of Israel. They would like to work out with us
an absolute guarantee of the integrity of Saudi Arabia. In the Persian
Gulf, they would not reduce their military presence but would like
to alter their rather outdated relationships with the Sheikdoms. They
are concerned at the bad state of their relations with the Shah of Iran
and would like to have the U. S. join them for talks with the Shah
regarding the threat he sees from the developing UAR-Iraq relationship.
Article 19
Secretary Rusk stressed the importance to us of Article 19
and our determination not to yield. He told Gordon Walker that he
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did not know if we could get an appropriation from Congress for the
UN if the General Assembly did not support us on Article 19. The
Foreign Secretary agreed to back the U. S. on this question and to
approach the Soviets, either in London or in Moscow, to tell them the
British were convinced that the Americans meant business. Gordon
Walker also agreed to consider some British lobbying with countries
waivering on the Article 19 question..
Chinese Representation
Gordon Walker said the British would continue to vote for the
admission of the Chinese Communists to the UN but would not lobby
in favor of admission this year. He gave no commitment regarding
subsequent years. Gordon Walker said he was inclined to believe that
Chinese representation was an "important question" requiring the
two-thirds majority but he gave no firm commitment that this would
continue to be the policy of HMG as it has been in the past.
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Summary Memorandum of Conversation Between
Secretary of State Rusk and British Foreign Secretary Gordon Walker
4:00 P.M., October 26, 1964
Libya
In response to a question from Mr. Gordon Walker, the Secretary
said we were trying to hold on to Wheelus as long as possible. We
were trying to delay and roll with the punch. Mr. Gordon Walker
asked what we planned to do after 1971 when our base agreement
expired. The Secretary replied that he didn't know if we could
stay that long. In the meantime we were cutting down our activities
in Wheelus as much as we could.
Iran
There was again a general discussion of the Shah's concern
with the situation in Iraq and the Persian Gulf. Mr. Gordon Walker
indicated, however, that he was not thinking of joint U.S.-UK
talks with the Shah for the purpose of reassuring him but only
UK talks which we would know about.
India-Pakistan
The Secretary said that our primary concern in the Middle
East is with Pakistan. Mr. Gordon Walker thought that there was
very little which could be done in the present situation except
to lean a little towards India one day and a little toward
Pakistan the next as we were now doing. We couldn't solve the
Kashmir problem. Our basic trouble was that we were trying to
keep on friendly relations with two countries which hated each
other. Endless patience appeared to be needed.
Nasser and the Middle East
There was a further discussion of the problem of dealing
with Nasser and Arab nationalism. Mr. Gordon Walker said he
thought he would have to feel his way with Nasser. Nothing much
could be done if Nasser kept putting his price up. Certainly the
UK would not object to U.S. policy. He thought that the U.S. idea
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of giving Nasser economic aid and speaking to him sharply on
political matters seemed about right. He thought economic aid
could only give the U.S. limited leverage.
The Secretary said that the thing that bothers us most about
Nasser are his efforts to use Arab nationalism to promote UAR
interests in neighboring countries. He mentioned that we had
tried to get Nasser interested in some form of de facto arms
limitation agreement for the area but that Nasser hadn't responded.
The Foreign Secretary said that if the Israelis were capable of
blowing up the High Dam this would be a stabilizing factor. The
Secretary doubted that this could be done without a nuclear
bomb and noted that we should keep an eye on the Israeli nuclear
capacity.
It was agreed following a suggestion by the Secretary that:
there should be at an appropriate time a country by country review
of our respective Middle East policies. Mr. Gordon Walker suggested
that this be extended to the Far East as well.
Assistant Secretary Tyler has given Mr. McGeorge Bundy an
extensive summary of the discussion of this item.
OEganization of NATO
The Secretary remarked that we had been giving some thought
to the organization of NATO. He was not sure that the Council
was functioning properly. Its deliberations should perhaps be at
a higher level. Mr. Gordon Walker replied that he would be
interested in hearing any proposals we had to put forward on the
organization of NATO.
Common Market
Mr. Gordon Walker said that the Labor Government thought the
Common Market was a good thing. Labor would like to see it go on.
On the other hand Labor would not be prepared for another Brussels
type negotiation. It would in the meantime try to improve relations
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with the Common Market countries and with the Common Market as
a whole by ad hoc means.
European Political Unity
The British Foreign Secretary mentioned in passing that if
the European countries were to hold any talks on political union,
the Labor Government like its predecessor would like to be in on
such talks from the beginning.
EUR/BNA:TJudd 10/26/64
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