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

501.BB/12–1346

Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by the Associate Chief of the Division of Dependent Area Affairs (Green)

[Washington,] December 13, 1946.

Mr. Gerig⁷⁹ telephoned this morning to say that the Delegation was considering the slate for elections to the Trusteeship Council. Its present slate, approved by the Department, consisted of Iraq and Brazil. Ambassador Dawson and Mr. Hall⁸⁰ had reported, however, that Mexico was rapidly becoming a more important candidate than Brazil. The Mexicans were campaigning actively, and claim to have obtained sixteen of the Latin American votes and the six Arab votes. Senator Austin felt so deeply committed to Brazil that he could not switch his vote to Mexico if Brazil did not withdraw its candidacy. The question was being considered, therefore, as to whether the Delegation should now vote for Brazil on the first ballot but not campaign for the Brazilian candidacy. If the first ballot revealed that Mexico was in the lead the Delegation might then switch its vote to Mexico on the second ballot. Mr. Gerig asked that I consult ARA on this matter.

I subsequently telephoned Mr. Miner⁸¹ of SPA since he has been handling the slate question. Mr. Miner said that he had received similar information from Mr. Popper in New York but had been unable to consult ARA on this matter. Mr. Miner asked that I check with Mr. Gerig to make sure that Mr. Dulles would have no objection to the selection of Mexico since Mr. Hiss had previously understood that Mr. Dulles was not satisfied with the Mexican approach to trusteeship questions. I then telephoned Mr. Gerig who said that, while the Delegation had had some doubts about Mexico early in the Assembly, the Mexican representatives in Committee 4 had been very helpful throughout the discussions, whereas, the Brazilian representatives had contributed absolutely nothing. On the question of monopolies, only Mexico and Uruguay had supported the United States position. Mr. Gerig did not think, therefore, that Mr. Dulles would have any objection to the selection of Mexico. I gave this information to Mr. Miner who said that he would consult ARA as soon as possible and prepare a telegram on the Department’s position.

I asked Mr. Gerig whether any consideration had been given to the contingent election of two additional seats to the Trusteeship Council in order to anticipate approval of the United States trusteeship agreement by the Security Council. Mr. Gerig said that nothing had been done on this point and that he felt it was too late to raise it in the Plenary Session.⁸²

79. Benjamin Gerig, Adviser on the United States Delegation Staff, and within the Department, Chief of the Division of Dependent Area Affairs.
80. Carlos Hall, Adviser on the United States Delegation Staff.
81. Robert G. Miner of the Office of the Director of the Office of Special Political Affairs.

82. The Department replied in telegram 321, December 13, 7 p.m., that it had “no objections to Gadel supporting Mexico instead of Brazil for TC, if Gadel considers such action desirable, and provided previous commitment to Brazil discharged”. (501.BB/12–1346)

    With the adoption by the General Assembly of seven trusteeship agreements on December 13 (see pp. 544 ff.) the conditions requisite for the constitution of the Trusteeship Council were fulfilled, and the Assembly proceeded to entertain a resolution submitted by the Fourth Committee calling for the same (GA(I/2), Plenary, pp. 1266 ff.). Final action was deferred until December 14 when the General Assembly elected Iraq and Mexico to the two seats on the new Council available on an elective basis; see ibid., pp. 1320 ff.

    This action by the General Assembly completed the establishment of the last of the principal organs of the United Nations and so of the Organization itself.