320/7–2254: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) to the Department of State1
70. Re presidency Ninth General Assembly. It is essential that we do something right away to alleviate hard feeling on this subject (Hague’s 124, July 21). This can be done in following way:
- 1.
- Matthews should inform Dutch that, in addition to arguments Murphy presented to Dutch Counselor, Prince Wan is a Foreign Minister, he has participated actively in all General Assembly sessions, he has served as committee chairman more than once, he stepped down in favor of Pearson two years ago and lost to Madame Pandit in friendly contest last year. Van Kleffens, despite all his other fine attributes, does not qualify under any of these criteria.
- 2.
- We have highest regard for Van Kleffens personally and sympathy for European and in particular Dutch aspiration to General Assembly presidency.
- 3.
- Van Kleffens’ candidacy being well advanced, we can well understand Dutch Government would not like withdraw his name. We would propose, therefore, that Van Kleffens’ candidacy be maintained but that all governments concerned do their best to create atmosphere of “friendly contest.” If, as we now estimate situation, Wan is elected, this would be no disgrace to Van Kleffens or Dutch. We would then propose give our very strongest support to Van Kleffens for chairmanship Committee One. This, in turn, would build him up strongly for [Page 562] election to presidency next year. Meanwhile, since Latin Americans seem to be more interested in Charter Review Conference presidency, we would use our best efforts to enlist their support for Van Kleffens next year on understanding we would support Latin American candidacy (probably not Chile) for presidency of Charter Review Conference in 1956.
I think foregoing would be friendly, realistic and calculated to give substantial prizes to all three interested groups. I know that we traditionally do not like to commit ourselves so far in advance but in view of issues involved in this case I do not think we should be bureaucratic on this point.
I suggest, therefore, that Matthews be instructed discuss this matter with Luns in foregoing sense.
We discussed this program quite personally and unofficially with Prince Wan at lunch today. He reacted very favorably towards it because, while he is confident of his own chances for election, he also wants to maintain best possible relationships with Dutch. He is confident, not only because of his contacts with Latin Americans, but also because at an Asian group meeting this morning he said his candidacy was “welcomed”.
- Repeated to The Hague as telegram 121, July 23, 8:23 p.m. (320/7–2354).↩