Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, United Nations and General International Matters, Volume XI

259. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Wilcox) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, August 9, 1957.

SUBJECT

• Chinese Representation at the 12th Session of the General Assembly

Problem

Ambassador Lodge’s letter to you of August 6 (Tab B)² states we have not yet received definite word that the British will support the moratorium on the issue of Chinese representation at the 12th Session of the General Assembly and asks that you seek soon to obtain this assurance.

Discussion

The approach of June 12 mentioned by Ambassador Lodge was made in response to a Department request that he seek United Kingdom agreement to support the moratorium to cover the entire duration of the 12th General Assembly.

The British have given us several indications that they will continue at the 12th General Assembly to support us on the Chinese representation issue, but have not yet given us a specific commitment. In informing Embassy London on July 25 that the United Kingdom would adhere to the moratorium at the IAEA Conference, the Foreign Office asked that this position be kept confidential until mid-August when the United Kingdom would disclose the position to be taken at the General Assembly.

Embassy London was informed by the Foreign Office on August 8 (Tab C)³ that the Cabinet has now made its decision on the moratorium issue with regard to the Assembly. The Foreign Office informant remarked that, while he could not yet reveal this decision, the recent British decision with respect to the IAEA Conference “should give the Embassy a clue” to the nature of the Cabinet’s action. The Embassy expects that formal United Kingdom notification to the United States will be made shortly, probably at USUN.

Recommendation

It is recommended that you approve the attached draft letter (Tab A)⁴ which refers to the report from our Embassy in London, received after Mr. Lodge’s letter, that a formal United Kingdom reply is expected shortly.⁵

1. Source: Department of State,IO Files: Lot 60 D 113, 12th GA Session. Confidential.
2. Not found attached. In this letter Lodge reported that the Mission had no definite word that the British would continue to support the moratorium on Chinese representation. (USUN Files, IO, Dels, China)
3. Reference is to telegram 1004 from London, August 8. (Department of State, Central Files, 398.1901/8–857)
4. This draft letter to Lodge reiterated the Secretary’s concern over the British position on the moratorium on Chinese representation and reported that formal notification from London was expected shortly.
5. The draft letter cited in footnote 4 above was not sent. Instead, Dulles wrote Lodge on August 20, that according to telegram 1008 from London, August 14 (Department of State, Central Files, 330.13/8–857), the Foreign Office has instructed the U.K. Delegation to support the moratorium on Chinese representation. (Ibid., 310.2/8–2257) On August 22, Wadsworth reported in telegram 261 from USUN that Crosthwaite had officially informed the U.S. Delegation that day of British support for a moratorium. (Ibid.)