Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Africa and South Asia, Volume XI, Part 1

771.00/10–1553: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom¹

confidential priority

Washington, October 15, 1953—5:06 p.m.

Tosec 3. For the Secretary from Murphy.² We think you should be informed of recent developments on Moroccan case in UN General Assembly in event Bidault raises matter with you.

As you know, French have hoped debate now going on in GA Political Committee could be concluded without passage of any resolution. Discussion will probably end today. Last night Brazil, Bolivia, Haiti and Uruguay gave us draft recalling last year’s General Assembly resolution, stating that sufficient time has not elapsed to appraise its results, and renewing Assembly’s appeal to parties to pursue the easing of the present tension and to develop the free political institutions of Moroccan people in accordance with spirit of Charter.³

US Delegation feels strongly that it is in our interest to support such a resolution.⁴ Tactical situation is such that opposition to above text would have damaging effects on our relations with Arab-Asian states. It would force Arab-Asians to press their own extreme resolution and would force us into a position of categoric opposition to that resolution and any amendments to it. We would also disappoint Latin-Americans, many of whom feel GA should not fail pass some type of resolution in order continue modicum of gentle pressure on French.

We agree with Delegation that if resolution required, Latin American draft text acceptable, although we continue believe no resolution preferable. We have informed Delegation that if this resolution introduced we should vote in favor, but in meantime should avoid any encouragement to Latin Americans.⁵

We have informed French Embassy here, and Lodge is informing Hoppenot in New York. He will try to persuade Hoppenot that action we are taking is in over-all interest of French.⁶

Smith

1. This telegram was drafted by Popper and cleared in the offices of McBride (WE), Bonbright (EUR), and Cyr (AF). It was signed by Murphy and was repeated to USUN and Paris.
2. The Secretary of State was in London for a meeting of the Foreign Ministers; see the editorial note, vol. v, Part 2, p. 1709. The text of a statement made by the Secretary at National Airport on Oct. 14, on his departure, is in the Department of State Bulletin, Oct. 26, 1953, pp. 546–547. On Oct. 20, after his return, he made a speech in New York about the meeting. The text is ibid., Nov. 2, 1953, pp. 587–589.

3. The text of the resolution was transmitted to the Department of State in USUN telegram Delga 117, Oct. 13. The Mission at the United Nations reported that the countries who introduced the resolution, and some other Latin Americans, did not favor the Arab-Asian resolution, but believed strongly that France “should not get off scot free.” The Mission requested guidance from the Department about its position on the resolution. (320/10–1353)

   Telegram 1490 from Paris, Oct. 15, informed the Department the French had just been informed of the Bolivian resolution and considered it unsatisfactory. They hoped the United States would be able to keep the Bolivians from introducing it. The Embassy assumed Bidault would probably bring up the topic with the Secretary in London. (320/10–1553)

4. A member of the UN Mission telephoned the Department on Oct. 15 suggesting that it was clearly in the interest of the United States to support the Bolivian resolution. Members of the Mission did not see how the Bolivian resolution could injure the French and felt that refusal to support it would stimulate the Arab-Asians to press their own resolution. (320/10–1553)
5. Telegram Gadel 30 to USUN, Oct. 15, informed the Mission that the Department appreciated the tactical situation. While the Mission was not to encourage the Latin Americans, it was authorized to tell them that it would support the resolution if they introduced it. (320/10–1553)
6. Ultimately, the UN General Assembly failed to adopt any resolution on Morocco. The Arab-Asian draft resolution, opposed by the United States, was voted down in the Political Committee on Oct. 19; the Latin American resolution, also opposed by the United States because of objectionable amendments added by India, Indonesia, and Burma, failed adoption in the General Assembly on Nov. 3.