Office of the Historian

27. Memorandum From the Deputy Director of the Office of United Nations Political and Security Affairs (DePalma) to the United Nations Adviser in the Bureau of Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Howard)1

Washington, June 6, 1956.

SUBJECT

  • Advance Consultations with New Members of UN

As you know, UNP has in recent weeks with the cooperation of the other bureaus, made a study and recommendations designed to improve US participation in the United Nations General Assembly.2 One phase of the study had as its purpose to ascertain whether improvements could be made in US internal preparations, diplomatic liaison, delegation operations and public relations which might reduce unnecessary frictions with other governments, maximize US leadership, and in general utilize our diplomatic instruments most effectively.

A major recommendation emerging from the study was that a systematic program of developing our relations with certain of the new members of the United Nations should be initiated at an early date.

As a first step in such a program it would be useful to have a brief paper from each bureau on each new member state in the area setting forth the major factors to be taken into account with respect to its participation in the United Nations. Such topics as the following might be included: [Page 101]

1.
An estimate of the general posture which the new member can be expected to take within the United Nations and its probable relationship to the US and other major states or blocs of states within the UN.
2.
An estimate of the new member state’s probable position on the specific issues or types of issues of greatest concern to it.
3.
An indication of any particular factors which should be borne in mind in conducting negotiations with the state and any concrete suggestions as to the steps the Delegation might take to establish good relationships.
4.
The names of individuals in the embassy here other than the ambassador who will be handling UN matters.

In addition, if there are broad factors relating to the region as a whole rather than to specific countries, it would be useful to have a brief over-all memorandum concerning US relationships in the UN with the geographic regions as they are affected by the admission of new members. In the case of ARA, for example, there are no new member states but comments would be helpful regarding the degree to which the Latin American group will wish to associate itself with Italy, Spain and Portugal in the General Assembly and whether it would be in our interest to encourage a closer or looser association.

As a possible aid to an analysis of probable attitudes of the new member states, a check list of items expected to arise at the eleventh regular session of the General Assembly is attached along with a check list of new members.3

The Committee which is coordinating the study has requested that these memoranda be completed by June 15 if feasible.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320/6–656. Confidential. Also sent to the U.N. Advisers in the Bureaus of Far Eastern Affairs (Bacon) and European Affairs (Roberts) and to George N. Monsma.↩
  2. See Document 24 and attachments thereto.↩
  3. Neither found.↩