341. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Ghana0
146. Ref: Accra’s 160 and 163.1 Southern Rhodesia. In its discretion Accra may confirm to GOG that US does not believe Security Council meeting now on Southern Rhodesia is necessary or useful. FYI: We have stated to UK that we would abstain if sufficient abstentions available prevent adoption Southern Rhodesian item. This would require Norwegian and Brazilian abstentions which by no means assured. End FYI.
Presumably October date referred to by GOG (Accra’s 160) pertains to October 15 beginning of transfer of powers pursuant to decision Victoria [Page 534] Falls Conference. However we see SC meeting as likely exacerbate situation in critical intervening period and contribute to intransigence Field Government. More productive course for GOG might be quiet exertion its influence in Commonwealth context.
If queried USUN authorized take above line.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 19 RHOD & NYAS/UN. Confidential. Drafted by Hennes; cleared by Friedman (in draft), Buffum, and Strong; and approved by Gardner. Also sent to USUN and repeated to London and Salisbury.↩
- Telegrams 160 and 163 from Accra, August 29, reported that the Government of Ghana would be very unhappy if the United States opposed Security Council consideration of the Southern Rhodesian question. (Ibid.)↩