330/2–350: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom 1
562. Dept’s position re Sov walkouts from UN organs close to that outlined urtel 634, Feb 3. Dept view is:
- 1.
- No UN Member can by willful absence impair normal functioning any UN organ or validity decisions it may take.
- 2.
- Application this position to SC made clear by Amb Gross statement in SC mtg Jan 13 that absence permanent member from SC mtg in no way diminishes its power or auth to act. Text statement being pouched.
- 3.
- Dept’s present evaluation is Sov walkout temporary and does not signify permanent withdrawal near future although latter aspect being closely watched.
- 4.
- US will support maintenance to greatest extent practicable normal range and tempo activities all UN bodies.
- 5.
- U.S. will not utilize absence Sovs to bring up in SC matters which wld not normally arise. For example US wld not now initiate or support gen review UN membership applications by SC.
- 6.
- US believes SC shld continue consideration of Kashmir question regardless Sov absence.
- 7.
- On question Chi representation SC and other UN organs US position is this is matter each Member must decide for itself. US does not recognize Chi Commies and will vote against res to unseat Chi Nat reps or seat Commies at this time. US will however accept parliamentary decisions taken by UN bodies. US regards representation question as procedural in SC and not subj to veto.2
- 8.
- Sov boycott of SC and other organs is violation its obligations and responsibilities under UN Charter. Other Members shld stress fact it is Sov conduct, characterized by unwillingness accept parliamentary decisions of UN bodies, which has exacerbated situation.
Further FonOff views appreciated.
- Repeated to USUN as telegram 61.↩
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At this same time the Department of State committed itself to the Congress and in the public record on this issue. Responding to a series of questions posed in the so-called Lodge Resolution (H. Res. 452, January 27, 1950) regarding the foreign policy of the United States in the Far East, the Department addressed the following question: “Has the United States Government formulated its attitude with respect to admission of the Communist regime in China to the UN?”. The Department’s response was:
“The United States Government recognizes the National Government as the Government of China and has instructed United States representatives at the UN to vote against motions which would have the effect of depriving National Government representatives of the seat which they are entitled to occupy in the Security Council or in other UN organs.…
“If a UN organ should vote in accordance with its rules of procedure to seat a Chinese Communist representative we would accept the will of the majority and continue active participation in such organs fulfilling in good faith our duties as a UN member. Such action on our part would, of course, not constitute recognition of the Chinese Communist regime.”
This information was conveyed to Representative John Kee, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, in a Department of State letter of February 9, 1950 (File No. 611.90/1–2950; not found in Department of State files); and printed in 81st Congress, 2d Session, House of Representatives, Report No. 1618, Foreign Policy of the United States in the Far East, February 9, 1950, p. 7.
The Department of State reiterated its position on this issue to Representative Kee in a letter of December 21, 1950. In sending this and a similar communication to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Tom Connally, on the same date, the Department had approval at the highest levels (File No. 310.2/12–2150 and Lot 66 D 95, Box 1798).
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