Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, General; the United Nations, Volume I

IO Files: US/A/M (Chr.)/32

Minutes of the Thirty-Second Meeting of the United States Delegation, Held at New York, Hotel Pennsylvania, December 5, 1946, 9:00 a.m.

New York, December 5, 1946, 9:00 a.m.

secret

[Here follow list of names of persons present (28), and Delegation discussion of another subject.]

Trusteeship Council Slates

Mr. Sandifer recalled that in the previous discussion on the Trusteeship Council slates the decision had been postponed since it was not certain that there would be a Trusteeship Council. Now, however, it appeared that a Council would be set up and our slate must be ready. He recalled that earlier the Department’s slate had been Egypt, Denmark and the Philippines, However, on later consideration, the following recommendation had been drawn up (US/A/169):⁷⁴

“2. Recommendations

(1) The following slate is proposed for consideration as a result of consultation among the Advisers principally concerned with this matter. The question is concurrently under consideration in the Department of State.

• First seat—Iraq
• Second seat—Netherlands, or Brazil, or Denmark
• Third seat—Philippine Republic, or Brazil or Denmark
• Fourth seat—Brazil, or India, or a Soviet satellite

(2) If a full slate is not elected on the first two ballots the Delegation should be given authority to cast its vote in such a manner as to produce the closest possible approximation to our desired slate.”

Mr. Dulles said that whether there were enough agreements negotiated to establish a Trusteeship Council depended largely upon what the Council was going to be like when it was set up. He said there would be a lot of log-rolling in order to get the agreements passed. It was very apparent that there was no desire to have a Trusteeship Council if it was to be dominated by the colonial powers. He pointed out that one-half of the Trusteeship Council was to consist of administering authorities and, since the Council operated by a majority vote, if another colonial power were added to the Council there would be a majority of colonial powers. He thought that if that kind of a Council were to be established there would be no Council for there would be no agreements concluded. Specifically, he thought, placing the Netherlands on the Council might prevent the creation of that body.

Mr. Dulles agreed that it was vital to have an Arab member on the Council in order to have the necessary agreements concluded, since the Arab bloc plus the Soviet bloc was an important factor. Iraq had handled itself very well in the Trusteeship Committee. Originally, he had opposed Iraq because of its attitude on Palestine but now he thought it was necessary to elect it to the Trusteeship Council.

Mr. Sandifer pointed out that Iraq was the choice of the Arab states.

Senator Austin noted that Brazil was very anxious to be elected. Mr. Dulles said that he would like to see Brazil on the Council. He noted that Mexico always voted with Russia in Committee IV. Ambassador Dawson noted that Brazil was the only country which had made a strong plea for membership. Mr. Gerig noted that Cuba was actively competing.

Mr. Dulles said that he favored the list in the position paper US/A/169 with the elimination of the Netherlands and also provided that there was a Latin American state which would bring to the United States position the votes it needed. Senator Austin commented that he thought that if Brazil were assured of our support it would work for the United States.

Mr. Sandifer pointed out that Brazil was on the Security Council and had another year to serve on that body. He thought that on the face of it, that raised the question as to whether it was desirable to give another Council seat to Brazil, or wanted to elect some other Latin American state. Mr. Dawson commented that Cuba and Peru were both possibilities, but they were both on the Economic and Social Council. He noted that Argentina was not pushing its candidacy.

Mr. Raynor said that he would be agreeable to eliminating the Netherlands, provided it was placed on the Economic and Social Council slate in the next ballot. He thought Mr. Dulles’ arguments were cogent for not supporting the Netherlands for the Trusteeship Council. He noted, in passing, that the reason the Netherlands had pushed its candidacy for the Economic and Social Council was because it had learned it was on the United States slate.

Senator Austin polled the Delegation on eliminating the Netherlands from the Trusteeship Council slate and this was unanimously approved.

Senator Vandenburg urged strongly that the Netherlands should be put on the Economic and Social Council slate, because he said the Netherlands was being thrown out the window in the Assembly’s selections. Senator Austin agreed, and said that the Delegation should think over whether it wished to substitute the Netherlands for Turkey or Byelorussia.

Mr. Dulles inquired when the information might be passed to Iraq that the United States would support it for the Trusteeship Council. Mr. Sandifer replied that he thought the Department could be consulted quickly during the morning. Mr. Dulles said that since he had given the Secretary a memorandum on the question, he thought that clearance could be quickly obtained. He requested that the matter of handling the tactics of informing the Iraq Delegation should be left to him and Mr. Wadsworth.

Senator Austin reported that Brazil came around to see him every day to inquire how he was progressing with the Brazilian Trusteeship Council candidacy.

Mr. Sandifer said he would like to have the Delegation’s reaction as to whether India or a Soviet satellite be supported for the fourth seat. Mr. Sandifer apologized for the use of the term “Soviet satellite” in Document US/A/169. Mr. Dulles thought the word “or” in the phrase “India or a Soviet satellite” was superfluous. The choice for the third seat should also be decided between Denmark and the Philippines, Mr. Sandifer said.

Mr. Gerig pointed out that if the Strategic Area Agreements of the United States were approved, there would be four elected Members on the Trusteeship Council. In answer to Mr. Dulles’ question, he said that he thought the Assembly could elect members to fill those seats on a contingent basis.

Mr. Allison said that the Far East Office of the Department felt very strongly that the Philippines should be supported for a Trusteeship Council seat. If there were to be four elected members, the office would like the Philippines to have the third seat. The Department felt that the Philippine Republic should be included as a new country, recently free, and because the Far East was represented only by China. Also the Philippines badly wanted to be a member. Mr. Allison said that General Romulo⁷⁵ frequently asked him about his candidacy.

Mrs. Roosevelt said that she would like to see Denmark rather than India on the Council. She thought the Philippines should be selected. Mr. Raynor said that he would like to see slate consisting of Denmark and the Philippines. Mrs. Roosevelt continued that the Danish Representative on Committee III was an extremely able person. She thought that the Danish background would be useful in the Trusteeship Council and that it would bring a healthy note to its discussions, whereas India would probably not do so.

Senator Austin polled the Delegation and secured unanimous approval for the Trusteeship Council slate as follows:

• First seat: Iraq
• Second seat: Brazil
• Third seat: Philippine Republic
• Fourth seat: Denmark

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.⁷⁶

74. United States Delegation Position Paper dated December 4 p. 242.
75. Ambassador Carlos P. Romulo, Head of the Philippines Delegation.

76. In telegram 928, December 5, 5;30 p.m., from New York, the tentative slate approved by the Delegation was named, a brief summary given of the Delegation’s discussion, and the Department’s “views on the subject” requested “at earliest convenience”. In the fourth paragraph of the telegram Senator Austin stated that “Although point was not specifically discussed, it is apparently consensus of delegation that, if a full slate has not been elected after the ballots, delegation should be given authority to cast its vote in such manner as to produce closest possible approximation to our desired slate.” (501.BE/12–546)

    In telegram 308, December 6, 7 p.m., to New York; the Acting Secretary of State (Acheson) informed the Delegation that “Although preferring Philippines as candidate for one of first two seats, Department approves slate recommended in your para one on basis Delegation’s estimate of importance of proposed TrustCo [Trusteeship Council] slate to issue of obtaining wide GA support for approval of pending trusteeship agreements and consequent establishment TrustCo. … Procedure outlined your para four is acceptable.” (501.BE/12–546)