DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation
DATE: July 29, 1950
SUBJECT: Formosa: Contribution of Troops by Canada
PARTICIPANTS: Mr. Lester B. Pearson, Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs Mr. Hume Wrong, Canadian Ambassador Mr. Norman Robertson, Clerk of the Privy Council, Canada Mr. Dean Acheson, Secretary of State and Mr. George W. Perkins, Assistant Secretary of State
COPIES TO: S/S - The Secretary
Mr. Pearson asked me about the Formosan situation and about the contribution of troops by Canada to the UN for Korea. On Formosa I outlined our position to him very frankly explaining our belief that so long as hostilities continued in Korea we could not tolerate the idea of Formosa being occupied by Communist forces of any kind and repeated that of course we had no designs on the island permanently and were perfectly willing to see the problem ultimately disposed of by the UN or through other similar means. On the question of troops from Canada, I told him quite forcibly that I felt that it was of the greatest importance that everyone contribute as much as they could to the UN effort, and that I felt that Canada should make a commitment along these lines.
Mr. Pearson pointed out the difficulties in the Canadian situation and in the Cabinet and also pointed out the fact that they had no troops available at the present time that could be sent.
I told him that I could understand his difficulties, but it seemed to me that they ought to do what Australia and New Zealand had done which was to get going on the raising of troops, as we believed the campaign would be a long one, and even if by some chance it were not long, there would be need for occupying forces for some time to come. Mr. Pearson explained that before any action could be taken they would have to call a meeting of the Cabinet and that he felt this probably would be done in the not too distant future although it was difficult to do promptly as everyone was away.
Apparently Mr. Pearson\'s trip resulted from the fact that practically all the members of the Cabinet had gathered together for the funeral of Mr. MacKenzie King, and this had provided an opportunity for them to talk about the world situation even though there was no formal Cabinet meeting. As a result of this Mr. Pearson felt it important to get my frank views of the two questions discussed above.
Dean Acheson EUR:CWPerkins:ebw