Office of the Historian

UNP files, lot 59 D 237, “Membership”

Memorandum of Conversation, Between the Secretary of State and the United States Representative at the United Nation (Lodge)1

confidential
[New York,] October 11, 1954.
  • Subject:
  • US Plan for Non-Member Participation

In the course of a conversation that covered many topics, Amb. Lodge informed the Secretary of the status of our canvass of opinion regarding the non-Member participation plan. In view of this report the Secretary agreed that it would be wise to drop this scheme for this session. However, he was intrigued by the idea of trying to devise a formula which would permit Japan, and possibly Italy, to participate in the GA. It was worthwhile not to lose the benefit of the favorable reaction already received from the Japanese.

Amb. Lodge suggested that some formula based upon the criterion of size might be the basis for such action. If stretching the criterion to include Italy would be of use in getting the votes of the Latin American bloc, that might be worth a try.

  1. Drafted by Charles D. Cook (USUN). Source text indicates this memorandum was dictated Oct. 18.↩