UNITED STATES DELEGATION TO THE SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
October 22, 1952
SUBJECT: Talk with Paraguayan Foreign Minister
PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Bernardo Ocampos, Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ambassador Osvaldo Chaves The Secretary Mr. Milton Wells
The Foreign Minister called on the Secretary this morning at our invitation. After the opening exchange of greetings, the Secretary invited Dr. Ocampos' comments in regard to General Assembly problems.
Dr. Ocampos indicated that Paraguay would like to be helpful in breaking the armistice impasse in Korea; he had come to New York with that proposition in mind. While his Government does not have a concrete proposal to offer, he said, it is desirous of finding some formula which, after the matter has been more fully explored, might prove to be acceptable. The Secretary commented that such proposals as the Mexican one presumed that the Communists would abandon their demand for the forced repatriation of prisoners. He then outlined at some length our position, the nature of the draft resolution which he proposed to table following his opening statement on the case, and the reasoning behind our tactics. At this point, Dr. Ocampos asked what would happen if the North Koreans and Chinese Communists refused to heed the GA recommendation. The Secretary replied that we would then have to seek other methods of exerting pressure on the Communists, such as other political and economic steps.
The Foreign Minister expressed complete agreement with our proposed line of action and stated that Paraguay would vote for our draft resolution. He reiterated two or three times that Paraguay fully supports our policy in Korea and wholeheartedly concurs in the principle of non-forcible repatriation.
The conversation then turned to the Tunisia-Morocco question. The Secretary set forth our position, drawing attention to the internal
- 2 -
political difficulty the problem presented to the French. Dr. Ocampos commented that this question is a difficult one for Paraguay since it believes strongly that the General Assembly should hear the case but at the same time Paraguay understands France's position and hates to embarrass her or to make the present situation worse.
He expressed concurrence in our belief that a moderate discussion and possibly a non-condemnatory resolution on those items might make both parties more willing to resume bilateral negotiations.
In concluding the conversation, the Foreign Minister again stated that his Government fully supported our policy in respect to Korea and will continue to do so in the present session.
MWells:jtm