Office of the Historian

CFM Files, Lot M 88, Box 159

Minutes of Bipartite Conversation, Paris, November 5, 1951, 3:00 p.m.

Paris, November 5, 1951, 3:00 p.m.
top secret
NoVB M–2

Present:

  • United Kingdom
  • Mr. Anthony Eden, Foreign Secretary
  • Mr. Lloyd, Minister for State
  • Sir Pierson Dixon, Deputy Permanent Under Secretary
  • Mr. Bowker, Superintending Under Secretary for the Middle East
  • Mr. Parrott, Chief of UN Division, Foreign Office
  • Mr. Shuckburgh, Private Secretary to Mr. Eden
  • United States
  • Mr. Dean Acheson, Secretary of State Mr. Lewis Jones Mr. Hayden Raynor
  • For latter part of meeting—Dr. Philip Jessup

Chinese Representation

The Secretary read the draft resolution on this question which had been presented to the British on an official level at 12:00 o’clock as follows:

“The General Assembly decides to postpone consideration, for the duration of the sixth regular session meeting in Paris, of any proposals to exclude representatives of the National Government of China from the Assembly or to seat Chinese Communist representatives to represent China in the Assembly.”

Mr. Eden inquired about the procedure followed last year, and the Secretary explained how the matter had developed at the Fifth Assembly. The Secretary stressed that the inclusion in the draft resolution of the reference to the Sixth Session Meeting in Paris had been included in an attempt to meet the position of the United Kingdom. Mr. Lloyd inquired if we considered this to be a procedural motion, and the Secretary replied that we did. In response to a further inquiry, the Secretary indicated that if the Russians got the floor first, we could consider it a move to limit debate.

Mr. Eden indicated that the wording of the resolution was agreeable to him, but he questioned whether it was wise for us to take the initiative on the matter. The Secretary replied that he felt it was essential that we take the initiative in order “to put the matter to sleep until February.”

Mr. Eden said that he would have to consult the dominions on this matter which he could do tonight as he was dining with them. He [Page 283] thought that our objective of “putting the matter to sleep” was agreeable, and he also felt that if the matter did not come up from time to time, the result would probably be to facilitate the truce negotiations rather than the reverse.

The Secretary agreed that if Vishinsky obtained the floor before he did on this matter, other tactics might have to be followed.

Mr. Eden agreed that we could go ahead in view of the urgency of the matter, as it may come up tomorrow, with discussions on this draft resolution with the French and other friendly delegations, and that we could indicate that, while the United Kingdom had not definitely approved the resolution, they were not adverse to it.

[Here follows discussion of other subjects.]