320/10–2453: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Mission at the United Nations
confidential
Washington, October 24, 1953—1:04
p.m.
Gadel 41. Re Indians in South Africa.
- 1.
- Department agrees with GADel’s appraisal 17-power draft resolution (A/AC.72/L.10),1 particularly that inclusion of contentious [Page 1019] paragraphs re South African Government and legislation likely to continue to impede or even frustrate entirely any possibility for resumption direct negotiations. GADel’s plans for US vote in paragraph-by-paragraph vote on resolution consistent with position paper and past US voting pattern. While we would have preferred that GA simply call on parties to resume negotiations, we agree would be difficult for US not to support continuation GOC, despite fact utility any UN conciliatory machinery doubtful.
- 2.
- Department considers that sub-paragraph C of second operative paragraph referring to Immigrants Regulation Amendment Bill definitely inappropriate for GA action. In past US has seriously questioned policy and wisdom of specific reference by UN to domestic legislation in Union. In fact, GADel may find it desirable to point out informally that any GA reference this new legislation quite likely to be counter-productive. Department suggests analogy made by Dayal to case of Soviet wives, raised by Chile in 1948, not in point since our understanding is that new South African legislation simply places Indian-born wives and children of South African Indians on same basis as other immigrants.
- 3.
- Regardless of outcome of voting on objectionable provisions of resolution, Department agrees with GADel view that US should vote for resolution as a whole, taking account reasoning advanced Delga 144 and importance not compromising basic US position on racial discrimination.
Dulles