Office of the Historian

330/8–3054

Memorandum of Conversation, by Merritt N. Cootes of the Office of Western European Affairs

[Washington,] August 30, 1954.
  • Subject:
  • United States Support of Belgian Candidacy for Security Council Seat.

Mr. Muller told me the Belgian Ambassador called on the Secretary August 19 and told him that Belgium would be a candidate for a seat on the Security Council.

[Page 586]

Mr. Muller said the Ambassador was given “reason to hope that the United States will be favorable.” He added that the Ambassador had not asked the Secretary for a reply realizing that the Secretary could probably not give it then.

Mr. Muller said that he was not asking me for the reply “unless you have it” but that the purpose of his call was to make sure that the Ambassador’s request for support was a matter of record in the Department.

He referred to the Van Kleffens case and said that if necessary the Embassy could send the Department a note on this question. I promised to look into the question.1

  1. In telegram 321, Sept. 15, 6:25 p.m., to Brussels, the Department of State cabled: “Belgian Ambassador informed US prepared vote for Belgian seat Security Council.” (330/9–1554) This was repeated to USUN as telegram 149.↩