795.00/1–2051: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
1039. Korea. We invited to our office this noon all those delegates who were interested in joining in sponsoring a resolution, to consider what course should be taken at this afternoon’s meeting. We explained the results of the meeting with the British, French, Canadians and Australians this morning as reported in mytel 1038, and indicated our government felt it was of urgent importance that a resolution be tabled today.
We went over the revisions in the resolution and explained the changes. Kyrou (Greece) agreed that it was vital that a resolution be tabled today and indicated he was prepared to join in co-sponsoring.
Uruguay, Cuba, Colombia and Peru stated that they were prepared to join in sponsoring this resolution.
Kural (Turkey) indicated his delegation was prepared to join in co-sponsoring.
South African delegate said he did not have instructions re sponsoring and could not join if it were put forward today.
Netherlands delegate said his government had been willing to join in co-sponsoring if either French or British had done so; as he understood they were not now able to co-sponsor, his instructions did not permit him to do so. They were of course prepared to support the resolution.
Belgium delegate indicated that his position was the same.
Prince Wan (Thailand) said he would support the resolution but did not have instructions authorizing him to co-sponsor. Senator Austin came in from his talk with Department and joined the group.
[Page 115]Senator Austin said that we were in a difficult situation at the present moment. We felt it was absolutely essential that a resolution be tabled today. Our greatest allies, the British and French, were not able to join with us today on the text which was before the group. We were extremely anxious to do whatever we could to avoid giving appearance that Russians had succeeded in splitting the US away from its major allies and from Europeans. We did not wish either to split the Commonwealth. He thought that if those delegates who had indicated their willingness to join us in sponsoring this resolution went ahead together, it would be clear that the Western Powers had not been able to reach agreement. He had just received further instructions, therefore, to meet this situation by tabling a resolution alone—in behalf of the US only. He hoped that all those delegates who either now or at some later date wished to join in co-sponsoring this resolution would do so.
Senator Austin indicated he hoped this plan would meet with the approval of the group and would not be too unpleasant to them. Delegates of Belgium, Netherlands and South Africa immediately indicated they thought this decision was a wise one; the others acquiesced with good grace.