342. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations 0
650. Southern Rhodesia. At initiative Ghana, and with general endorsement African group, Security Council will begin debate on issue Southern Rhodesia morning September 9. We expect Ghana will attempt to establish that continuation of situation in Southern Rhodesia likely endanger international peace and security and that British plans for dissolution Federation Rhodesia and Nyasaland will result in transfer in near future of effective power (including substantial armed forces) to present white minority Government Southern Rhodesia. British, on other hand, expected contend situation outside competence SC and that any action by Council at this time will make it much more difficult to achieve satisfactory solution.
US has followed situation in Southern Rhodesia carefully and maintains sizable staff in Salisbury. We feel, therefore, we are in good position arrive at independent evaluation of direction and speed of evolution situation in Southern Rhodesia. We believe this summer’s Victoria Falls Conference dealing with procedures for transfer Federation powers to its Southern Rhodesian, Northern Rhodesian and Nyasaland elements was generally successful. Subsequent course events supports this evaluation. For example, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland expected become independent next year under black African governments.
Foregoing does not mean US underestimates complexity of dissolution problem nor particular difficulties in Southern Rhodesia. Although we believe British intentions and record good, we have consistently [Page 535] pressed UK not to grant Southern Rhodesia independence on basis present constitution and we believe UK doing much to assure satisfactory outcome.
US has reached conclusion that any Security Council resolution on question Southern Rhodesia likely be unhelpful in view extreme complexity situation. While Ghana has insisted on this meeting and has corralled substantial nominal African support, private indications are that many African Governments recognize SC consideration now untimely and not helpful in getting solution of problem.
For Caracas: Ambassador should seek urgent appointment with President or with Foreign Minister if Betancourt unavailable. Ambassador should indicate our intention to abstain on type resolutions we expect to be put forward in Council and strongly urge Venezuelan Government to take similar position to assure through abstention defeat of any resolution. In his discretion, Ambassador may also state we recognize that Venezuela may have considered its freedom of action has been restricted in recent Security Council deliberations because of Sosa Rodriguez candidacy as GA president. However, this element no longer need be considered because our estimate shows no other candidate in field, no other opponent could be successfully mounted at this point, and Sosa’s election foregone conclusion.
For London: We have informed Greenhill here of US decision support UK in Caracas, in Oslo as followup to UK efforts, and with Brazilian delegate in New York. You should also urge HMG to take lead especially in Oslo.
For Oslo: You should inform Foreign Office immediately at appropriately high level of foregoing US analysis Southern Rhodesian situation and urge as a followup to UK demarche, that Norwegians join UK, US, and others in steering outcome proceedings so that no resolution adopted. This would require abstention by Norway.
For USUN : Confirming Cleveland-Yost telecon you should present foregoing analysis to Bernardes (Brazil) and inform him US supports UK position mobilize abstentions against Southern Rhodesian resolution, seeking his advice as to whether there is anything we might usefully do in Rio to help obtain similar position on part GOB. You should also inform Sosa of our demarche in Caracas.1
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 19 RHOD & NYAS/UN. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Sisco, Buffum, and Hennes; cleared by Burdett, Williams, Monsma, and Judd; and approved by Cleveland. Also sent to Caracas, London, and Oslo and repeated to Accra, Manila, Paris, Rabat, Rio de Janeiro, Taipei, and Salisbury.↩
- On September 11, Ghana, Morocco, and the Philippines submitted a draft resolution on Southern Rhodesia to the Security Council which “invited” the United Kingdom not to transfer powers or attributes of sovereignty nor armed forces or aircraft to Southern Rhodesia “as at present governed.” The resolution also asked the United Kingdom to implement previous General Assembly resolutions on the question. (U.N. Doc. S/5425/Rev. 1) On September 13, the resolution was vetoed by the United Kingdom in an 8 to 1 vote, on which the the United States and France abstained.↩