Editorial Note
Pursuant to the Department’s instructions of November 4, 1952, supra, members of the United States Delegation in New York prepared a text of a “generalized resolution”, as a substitute for the Arab-Asian proposal on the race conflict item. The Delegation’s text called “upon all member states to bring their policies into conformity with their obligation under the Charter and to promote the observance of fundamental human rights and freedoms,” but did not mention South Africa specifically. On November 6, United States Representative Austin forwarded this text to the Department of State along with the information that Mme. Pandit had handed to United States officials the text of a tentative draft resolution on the race conflict item and had asked that the United States develop the Indian draft into a resolution which the United States could support and even cosponsor. The Indian draft, among other points, called for the establishment of a commission “to study and examine the international aspects and implications of the racial situation in the Union of South Africa in the light of the purposes and principles of the Charter and the resolutions of the UN on racial persecution and discrimination, and to report its findings to the 8th regular session of the GA” and also called for retention of the question on the agenda of the Eighth Regular Session of the General Assembly. (Telegram Delga 141, from New York; 320/11–652)
On November 7, the United States Mission in New York forwarded to the Department, over the signature of Secretary Acheson, a revised United States draft resolution, which called for the establishment of a commission “to study, in the light of the present res, the patterns and problems of race relations in nat’l societies and their internat’l implications.” The purpose of such a study would be to assist the General Assembly “to consider what the UN under its Charter can usefully do in relation to such problems.” The revised draft made no reference to the Eighth Session of the General Assembly and it referred to the Union of South Africa only in a tangential way in a preliminary paragraph. (Telegram Delga 147 from New York) A memorandum from Ambassador at Large Jessup to Secretary Acheson indicates that Acheson saw the attached telegram 147 on November 8, after it was sent (the memorandum is marked “Sec Saw”), but contains no indication that Acheson approved the draft resolution contained in the telegram. In [Page 974] his memorandum, Jessup presented the following arguments in defense of this draft resolution: “1. It should be very satisfying to the Union of South Africa since it avoids any condemnation of pointing an accusing finger at them. 2. Its advocacy would be extremely helpful in our relations with India. 3. In substance it sustains views in which we believe and which we would do well to advocate publicly.” Jessup also noted that the reference to assisting the General Assembly in considering what it might do about race relations had the effect of reserving the issue of competency and of broadening the focus of any future General Assembly consideration, so that it would not exclusively center on South Africa. (Jessup’s memorandum and the attached telegram Delga 147 are in file 320/11–852.)
In response to telegrams Delga 141 and Delga 147, Acting Secretary Bruce forwarded to the United States Mission at the United Nations two telegrams, drafted and approved within the Bureau of United Nations Affairs, which came out firmly against the proposed Indian draft resolution and stated a strong preference for the first version of a United States draft resolution (as contained in telegram Delga 141 with some minor revisions suggested in telegram Gadel 44) over the second version which mentioned a study commission. Officials within the Bureau of United Nations Affairs felt that provisions for the future consideration of the problem of racial discrimination would “tend to perpetuate discussions of difficult issue without any hope of constructive results.” (Telegram Gadel 44 to New York, November 8, 1952; 320/11–652 and telegram Gadel 47 to New York, November 10, 1952; 320/11–752).