310.2/6–1654
The Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Key) to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Lodge)
Dear Cabot: Your letter of May 26 on Chinese representation raises the question whether the matter will arise at a resumed or special session of the General Assembly and how to handle it; and concerning our timetable for discussions with the British on continuing the moratorium.
It seems by no means certain that the Soviets will formally raise the Chinese representation issue at a resumed or special session held in the immediate future, although they will undoubtedly state their position for the record. They might instead direct their efforts toward securing hearings for the Chinese communists, the Vietminh and the phantom Communist regimes of Laos and Cambodia. In any event, it seems obvious that the moratorium formula should be held ready for such a meeting and you may remember that a formula for a resumed session was agreed upon with the British last January. In pursuance of a general discussion between the Secretary and Sir Roger Makins in anticipation of a possible session on Korea, a text was agreed upon as follows: [Page 732]
“The General Assembly decides to postpone for the duration of the second part of the eighth regular session consideration of all proposals to exclude the representatives of the Government of the Republic of China and to seat representatives of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China.”
Copies of the relevant memoranda were sent to USUN in January. If we decide upon a resumed session, it should merely be necessary as a formality to recheck this formula with the UK Delegation in New York.
If a special session is held this formula would be varied only slightly. It would read: “postpone for the duration of the third special session”, etc. This form of words has not been discussed with the British but they should have no difficulty with it. As you know, the problem in reaching agreement with the UK concerning regular General Assembly sessions has been their reluctance to commit themselves for a long period of time. Since a special session would presumably not last more than a week or two the UK should accept postponement for the duration of such a session.
As soon as negotiations on the SC phase have been completed and firm agreement has been reached on the convening of the GA and the kind of a session to hold, we should discuss with the UK delegation the precise language of the formula and details of tactics on the Chinese representation issue.
The other problem you mention concerns the reaching of an agreement with the UK concerning the longer range handling of the Chinese representation problem. Obviously this must be done some time this summer. The Department is now considering whether this question should be brought up for discussion during the Churchill–Eden visit which has just been announced for the weekend of June 26–27. I shall let you know as soon as our thinking here on the matter of timing has progressed a little further.
I had not seen the recent poll of the British Institute of Public Opinion, and I am glad you drew it to my attention. It is indeed encouraging that the May poll shows a decline in the sentiment in favor of seating the Chinese Communists.
Sincerely yours,