IO Files: US/A/283

Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by Mr. David H. Popper of the Division of International Organization Affairs

confidential

Mr. Kotschnig1 said that the Czechs seemed aware of the fact that we had them in mind as a candidate for election to the Security Council. He said that they did not want the job. He also expressed the view that it might be better not to push the Czechs for this post, since they could only function in the Security Council as Soviet puppets, whereas in the Economic and Social Council and other less political agencies they were permitted to exercise a certain measure of freedom. Mr. Kotschnig was therefore inclined to believe that the end result might be better even if we elected Yugoslavia to the Security Council.

[Page 108]

At a Membership Team meeting on August 7, Mr. Popper relayed Mr. Kotschnig’s remarks to those present. He suggested that consideration be given to this point of view and that whatever the reaction of the Team, we should be prepared for a possible refusal from the Czechs to serve on the Security Council. In this case, he felt it might at some time be necesary to consider whether we would support Yugoslavia or the Ukraine for a Security Council seat.

Mr. Llewellyn Thompson (EE)2 was of the opinion that Czechoslovakia should be retained on the slate. Even though the Czech representative on the Security Council were to lose all his independence, Mr. Thompson stated, the spectacle of a Czech representative aping the Soviets would have a salutary effect from our point of view on the attitude of the Czech Government and people. Furthermore, Mr. Thompson and others felt that it was possible that the Czech representative might exercise a moderating influence on the Russians in the Security Council. The discussion was inconclusive.

  1. Walter Kotschnig, Acting Chief of the Division of International Organization Affairs, at this time was at the United States Mission at the United Nations (USUN).
  2. Llewellyn E. Thompson, Jr., Chief of the Division of Eastern European Affairs.