740.00119 Council/6–2046: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State

secret
us urgent

3017. Delsec 603. For Hiss from Cohen. Had talk with Jebb at lunch today on rules regarding disputes. Told him our fears regarding their proposed definitions and our feeling that it might be better to delay action now.

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Also explained our position that charter does not require a finding by the Council that there is a dispute or a determination of the parties to a dispute, but that these questions may be raised in connection with the right to vote and then decided as a procedural matter. I had not yet received your Secdel 29649 and he did not appear to be briefed on their position.

He listened sympathetically and, while not committing himself definitely to our position, did not seem disposed to advance contrary position, merely indicating that some of their people thought that their definitions might be helpful rather than harmful. He also indicated that there was a division among their people regarding our position on the effect of abstention though he was inclined to agree with our position.

Caffery
  1. Telegram 2934, June 19, 11 a.m., to Paris, not printed; it transmitted the text of the British proposal for defining disputes.