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31.
UNITED NATIONS ARMED FORCES
MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
On 11th September, 1950, my predecessor placed before the Cabinet for their consideration a paper (C.P. (50) 197) dealing with various proposals which were then being put forward by the United States for ways of meeting aggression promptly within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations (Č.M. (50) 57th Conclusions, Minute 1).
2. The general purpose of these proposals was to put teeth into the United Nations by arranging to circumvent Russian abuse of the veto and by ensuring that a United Nations force could be made available to resist aggressors. Soviet obstruction in the Security Council was to be overcome by allowing the General Assembly to act in cases where the Security Council was prevented from so doing and a variety of proposals for the setting up of a United Nations force were venti- lated. Among them was one for the formation of a United Nations Legion.
3. It was agreed by my colleagues at that time that there was serious objection to this proposal and that the Foreign Secretary should endeavour to dissuade the United States Government from pursuing it. In due course (and at our suggestion) the United States dropped the idea of a Legion, but separately tabled at the General Assembly of the United Nations a resolution called "Uniting for Peace lines of the general proposals stated above. At our invitation the United States agreed to drop a number of further suggestions which we considered ill advised, and in the end we both co-sponsored and voted for the Resolution.
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4. The Americans are, however, again hankering after the idea of a Legion. They have asked us to agree to discussion of the proposal in the so-called Collective Measures Committee, which forms part of the machinery set up under the " Uniting for Peace" Resolution. They have indicated that they would be prepared to limit work done to a definition of the problems and difficulties which would arise, and do not wish us to come to any decision on the merits of the Legion or to put forward proposals for its creation.
5. I am satisfied that nothing done in the Collective Measures Committee can commit governments to any course of action in any future situation. I there- fore recommend that our Delegation in New York be now authorised to agree to the inclusion of an item on a United Nations Legion" in the agenda for the following principal reasons:
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(a) We voted for the "Uniting for Peace" Resolution, and it would be unfortunate if we appeared to be reluctant even to discuss action of the kind which that Resolution considers;
(b) The Committee must be given something substantial to work on, and this item is less dangerous than some of the other ideas suggested by the United States;
(c) In agreeing to the discussion of this item, there is no implication that we have in any way modified our views of the practical difficulties which would be likely to arise if there were ever an attempt to put this project into effect;
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