501.BC/5–246: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Stettinius)

secret

45. USdel. We are encouraged by your reports as to support which has been found in your informal discussions to date for our proposed resolution on membership (reurtel 136 from New York, May 2, 194663). We gather that if either Mexico or Egypt indicate support necessary votes to carry resolution will be assured.

We are strongly of view that resolution should be placed on agenda of SC at earliest possible moment and by all means should be considered before specific question of Albania is placed on agenda.

Our short-term objective is to have SC’s attention turned to subject of membership in general, rather than to have it discuss specifically admission of Albania. We feel our resolution represents best chance of accomplishing this. We feel resolution should be considered rather than relying on action on rules in Committee of Experts.64 At least three risks are involved in latter course; (a) our rule might not be adopted, (b) even if adopted it would permit committee to report out Albanian case at any time, (c) also it would be possible for Albanian case to be brought up in SC at any time, and considered by SC without reference to committee as such reference under proposed rule is at discretion of SC.

Another reason for prompt consideration and adoption of our resolution is that we, from long-term point of view, favor wide membership in the organization as early as possible and therefore the early admission of certain states that are now eligible. The resolution is so phrased that in effect it is an invitation to non-members to file application for membership. We wish to discuss matter of applying for membership with neutrals and perhaps other countries at an early date, and thereafter to discuss prospects for their admission with members of SC, and we feel that the adoption of the resolution by SC may have constructive influence on position of countries eligible for membership.

For your own confidential information, we feel it would be most unfortunate for specific Albanian question to be brought to vote now [Page 383] as we would have to oppose it and we understand British would do likewise. We wish to avoid setting of this precedent. If matter is deferred until summer and then considered on broad bases we may find it possible to vote in favor of Albanian application. This would be case if situation with respect to Albania should change, which we must admit seems unlikely. In addition, however, we might in summer be disposed reluctantly to vote for admission of Albania if at same time group of other countries which we consider better qualified for membership are also admitted.

We realize that in suggesting this course of action a difficult situation would confront us if no application other than Albania’s were forthcoming before August. We feel however that this risk is a slight one and must be taken.

As soon as necessary 7 votes seem assured, you should take steps immediately to have our resolution placed on agenda.

Acheson
  1. This daily summary telegram contains a detailed report of conversations held in New York on May 2 by Mr. Johnson (501.BC/5–246).
  2. The proposed United States rules on membership were in fact distributed to members of the Committee of Experts by Mr. Johnson on this same date, May 3 (as reported in daily secret summary telegram 140, May 3, File No. 501.BC/5–346).