501.AD/12–646
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by the Acting Secretary of State
Senator Austin called me this morning and asked for my advice on the following three matters:
[Here follows discussion of the question of finding a site for the permanent headquarters of the United Nations.]
The second point on which he wished instructions was the question of our support of Turkey, the Netherlands or Byelo-Russia for a place on ECOSOC. He said that under the direction of Secretary Byrnes there had been transmitted to Turkey and Russia a statement of our intention to vote for Turkey and Byelo-Russia on the next ballot and then consider ourself free to take whatever course the situation convinces us we should take. He said there were three situations that might develop on which he would like our advice. However, as our conversation progressed, he mentioned only two.
The first is the question of what he should do in case of a deadlock on this ballot.
The second situation he foresaw was the election of one country, perhaps Byelo-Russia, leaving our decision to be made as to which of the other two we should vote for on succeeding ballots. I told him that he must ask Secretary Byrnes how this question should be handled. We understood that the number one country on which we should center all the way through was Turkey. It was not yet understood that Mr. Byrnes wished us to advise Turkey that we planned to do so. Senator Austin said he would have a talk with Mr. Byrnes about this point.
As between the Netherlands and Byelo-Russia, we understand that Mr. Byrnes wishes to support Byelo-Russia because of the wide considerations of policy. We understand, however, that he does not wish to make our position known to the Russians. Senator Austin said that he would try to see Secretary Byrnes and get his specific instructions on this point.
[Discussion followed on the third subject named by Senator Austin. It concerned an informal proposal by Mr. Lie for a Deputy Secretary Generalship of the United Nations.]