Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, United Nations Affairs, Volume III

320/8–2754: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Mission at the United Nations¹

confidential

Washington, August 27, 1954—7:13 p.m.

118. Re General Committee Slate. While undesirable freeze slate completely at this stage, believe we should begin promote slate satisfactory our standpoint through informal talks with Secretariat and other delegations. Our general objective this question should be to elect competent chairman and assure safe balance in General Committee of friendly members on major issues like Chinese representation. Following are our present views which you may use as basis informal discussions with Secretariat and key delegations.

1. Assume geographic distribution of 15 posts which make up Committee will be similar to pattern generally followed in past—i.e., Big Five, 3 or 4 Latin Americans, 3 or 4 Near and Far East and 1 each from British Commonwealth, Western Europe and Soviet bloc.

2. We are voting for Wan for President and in considering General Committee slate should proceed on assumption he will be elected. Also assume Big Five will be elected vice-presidents. (FYI we would not vote for USSR and therefore our ballot would contain 6 instead of 7 states for vice-presidents. End FYI.) We would support LA candidate for one of the two remaining vice-presidencies. For the other Greece is candidate but UK would undoubtedly oppose its candidacy in view Cyprus problem. While Greece satisfactory to us we would accept Turkey, which has expressed interest. Arab state would be another possibility for seventh vice-presidency if Asha not given Committee 4. Realize Secretariat has mentioned Indonesia for vice-presidency and that it has never had post on General Committee. However Barrington (Burma) is being mentioned for Committee chairmanship and believe we cannot support both. Of the two, we would prefer support Barrington for a chairmanship. In our view he would make good chairman, and FYI only, we cannot support Burma’s ECOSOC candidacy.

3. Re Committee Chairmanships:

a) Latin Americans seem definitely interested in Committee 1, and we would be willing support suitable Latin American choice.

b) We concur in Secretariat suggestion of Thor Thors (Iceland) for Ad Hoc.

c) We oppose election of Soviet bloc candidate to Committee 2 as suggested by UK or to Committee 3 as suggested by Secretariat. We would be willing support British Commonwealth candidate for one of these Committees, leaving it to Commonwealth to decide which Committee it prefers. FYI Understand Copeland (Australia) has made poor showing as Chairman ECOSOC’s Economic Committee this year but if Commonwealth presses his candidacy we would vote for him. End FYI. For the other of these two Committees Barrington or suitable Latin American choice (perhaps Sevilla-Sacasa of Nicaragua) would be satisfactory, although we might also have to consider Asha since he could do less harm in Committee 2 or 3 than Committee 4.

d) We share UK view Asha (Syria) would be undesirable for Committee 4. While it might be hard prevent his election if he has Arab support, especially since we did not support him for TC presidency this year, solution might be to offer Syria vice-presidency, or possibly give Asha Committee 2 or 3. Suitable Latin American (possibly Sevilla-Sacasa or Nunez-Portuondo of Cuba) could then be given Committee 4. Alternatively Engen (Norway) could be considered for this Committee if Thors not interested in Ad Hoc.

e) For Committee 5 we would consider suitable Latin American choice (perhaps Sevilla-Sacasa) or Barrington.

f) If majority contrary to our view favors continuing give Soviet bloc one chairmanship, believe it should be Committee 6 where fewer controversial issues likely arise. However we would strongly oppose Katz-Suchy for this post particularly in view issue raised concerning his attitude toward Chinese representative last year.

Smith

1. Drafted by Paul W. Jones of the Office of UN Political and Security Affairs; cleared with the geographic bureaus, the Assistant Legal Adviser for UN Affairs, and the Bureau of Economic Affairs; signed by Assistant Secretary Key.