Office of the Historian

310.2/12–154

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant)1

confidential
[Washington,] December 1, 1954.
  • Subject:
  • Spanish Observer Status at the United Nations
  • Participants:
  • Sr. Don Jose Maria Areilza, Spanish Ambassador
  • Assistant Secretary Merchant
  • Mr. West

The Spanish Ambassador called at his request. He reported that he had been in New York last week and had discussed this subject with Ambassador Lodge, Secretary General Hammarskjold, and representatives of Peru and Colombia. He said that his conversations had been very satisfactory, and that he expected that the question of observer status for Spain would be satisfactorily settled during the middle of this month. He added that he felt that according of observer status to Spain would clear the way for Spain’s application for UN membership “if and when” such an application appeared appropriate. (The Ambassador did not make it clear whether he believed that the gaining of observer status would actually remove the difficulties imposed by various UN resolutions unfavorable to Spain, or whether he merely thought that such status would be helpful).

Mr. Merchant expressed pleasure that the matter was proceeding satisfactorily and said that the Ambassador knew, of course, that Spain could count upon US support.

  1. Drafted by George L. West, Officer in Charge, French-Iberian Affairs, Office of Western European Affairs, on Dec. 2.↩