59. Editorial Note
Implementing the plan recommended to President Johnson by Secretary Rusk in Document 56, Ambassador Goldberg submitted a letter to the President of the U.N. Security Council on January 31, 1966, requesting an urgent meeting of the Council to consider the situation in Vietnam. At the same time, Goldberg submitted a draft U.S. resolution calling for “immediate discussion without preconditions … among the appropriate interested governments to arrange a conference looking toward the application of the Geneva Accords of 1954 and 1962 and the establishment of a durable peace in Southeast Asia.” Goldberg explained and defended the U.S. proposal at a meeting of the Security Council on February 1.
On February 2 the Security Council voted to place the Vietnam question on its agenda. The Council then decided that informal and private consultations be held to determine the most appropriate way of continuing the debate and adjourned to that end. For text of Goldbergʼs letter, his statements on February 1, and the draft resolution, see Department of State Bulletin, February 14, 1966, pages 229–239. Documentation on U.S. [Page 195] efforts to secure a favorable vote in the Security Council and on the ensuing consultations is in Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Regarding the outcome of the consultations, see footnote 2, Document 85.