257. Letter From Congresswoman Frances P. Bolton to the Representative at the United Nations (Lodge)1
My Dear Cabot: As you know, I was one of the four delegates who went to Ghana with the Vice President. You know also that in 1955 I took three specialists with me on a long trip in 24 countries of Africa. You have had the report I submitted on that study trip. Since then various departments and bureaus have taken an increasing interest in that great Continent and the people who live there. More and more people will be going to Africa and little by little we shall know more about the hopes and fears, the dreams and the aspirations of the Africans.
That the United Nations saw fit to take Ghana into its membership before it was 24 hours old, highlights what is to me a serious situation, particularly for the United States and the other major countries. Without question the “Asian Bloc” is in control and we shall be finding ourselves more and more at the mercy of small countries too new to responsibility to be able to act for the general benefit of a free world.
Why should there not have been set up a trial period for all “emerging” countries?
When one sees the tragic mistakes being made by Nkrumah, one trembles for him and his country. They may seem but small matters, such as his face on a stamp, the taking over of Christians-borg Castle, his dismissal of Gbedemah, the best financial brain in Ghana, because he refused to mint coins with Nkrumah’s face on them, etc., but they are clear indications that he is developing delusions of grandeur that may well wreck his own country and the chances of other countries for their freedom.
My experience at the United Nations is still too vivid for me to have forgotten the problems with which you are surrounded. Perhaps because of this I felt I must give you my sense of it all.
My warm regards to you and that charming wife of yours, and always my appreciation.
Cordially yours,
- Source: USUN Files, IO, Membership. Bolton was a Republican from the 22d district of Ohio and served as a member of the U.S. Delegation to the Eighth General Assembly.↩