110.11–AC/11–2251
Memorandum of Conversation, by Lucius D. Battle, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State 1
The Secretary attended a dinner last night given by President Auriol. During the evening, the Secretary talked briefly to Mr. Lie, who urged the Secretary to go over and speak to Mr. Vishinsky. The Secretary with Ambassador Bruce walked over to a group consisting of Mr. Vishinsky, Mr. Malik and Mr. Pavlov. Mr. Bruce was present for only the first portion of the conversation and then moved away from the group. The Secretary told me about it afterward. He said that everyone in the room withdrew so that he stood [Page 1672] alone with the Russians, and that photographers took pictures of them and the room generally watched the proceeding with interest.
The Secretary said that he exchanged greetings with the Russians and then turned to Mr. Vishinsky and said that he hoped that Mr. Vishinsky had noticed that although Mr. Vishinsky had been as offensive as possible to the Secretary and to the United States Government, the Secretary had refrained from offensive remarks about either Mr. Vishinsky or his Government.2 The Secretary said that if Mr. Vishinsky wanted to discuss anything with him, he had a free field without any problem of prestige or otherwise.
Mr. Malik then said that the Secretary had stated that the Russians had slave camps. Mr. Acheson then turned to Mr. Vishinsky and said that he wanted to talk to Mr. Vishinsky, not to Mr. Malik. The Secretary suggested a rereading of his speech with regard to the point on the Russians having slave camps, and said that it was not as Mr. Malik had indicated. The Secretary repeated that he had not said anything personally offensive about Mr. Vishinsky or his Government and repeated that there was no problem of prestige if he wished to discuss matters with the Secretary.
The Secretary continued by saying that he and Mr. Vishinsky could understand each other as they were both lawyers. He said they could laugh and make jokes in private and that that was all right, but the Secretary said that he did not derive any amusement from efforts at humor in the United Nations. He thought that such efforts at this kind of thing in the United Nations was neither funny nor constructive. He said that humor and the sort of thing Mr. Vishinsky had engaged in in the United Nations was in bad taste and that he resented it deeply. He pointed out that the United States had not responded in kind. He said we had tried to be calm and serious and to make worthwhile proposals for the United Nations’ consideration. Malik then replied that the United States was not sincere and its attitude was not constructive. The Secretary said he did not want to argue with Malik, which would result in getting into a propaganda circle.
The Secretary continued by saying that he was trying to make it possible to conduct the debate in a useful manner and it was up to the Russians whether this was to be done.
Mr. Malik then said that in Russian the word for “world” and “peace” was the same. Therefore, a united world meant peace. The [Page 1673] Secretary said he was not interested in applesauce about words. He said that if Mr. Vishinsky wanted to stop fooling around with doves and get on a twig, he would get on a twig with him and try to work out the problem. Mr. Vishinsky replied that if Mr. Acheson would come out of the ground, Vishinsky would get on the twig.
In discussing this conversation with me, the Secretary said he thought that it was important only in that it was a rugged conversation in which he swapped blows with Mr. Vishinsky. The Secretary said that it was all at his initiative and he was very much “in front” in the conversation.
The Secretary said he told Mr. Lie about it and that Mr. Lie was much impressed. He said if they blasted Mr. Acheson, no one could blame him for “going after them”. Mr. Lie said that Mr. Acheson had done all he could do to make constructive discussion possible.
- In a brief transmittal memorandum to McWilliams (S/S), Battle explained that this memorandum was based upon Secretary Acheson’s description to him of the conversation with Vyshinsky. Battle suggested that the memorandum not receive any distribution “other than those who need to know about it”. A note of December 4 by McWilliams attached to the source text indicates that this memorandum was sent to Bohlen (C) for information and to Bonbright (EUR) to file.↩
- The reference here is presumably to Secretary Acheson’s address on November 8 to the Sixth Session of the U.N. General Assembly on the American-British-French plan for the reduction and control of arms and Vyshinsky’s speech in rejoinder on the same day. Documentation on arms control in general and the plan under reference in particular is in vol. i, pp. 443 ff.↩