501.AC/6–1046

The Acting Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary General of the United Nations (Sobolev)

Excellency: I have the honor to refer to the letter dated June 10, 1946 from the Secretary-General41 with which he enclosed five copies of the English and French texts of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. The Secretary-General asked what steps the Government of the United States of America has taken or intends to take in order to give effect to this Convention and expressed the hope that pending accession to the Convention, the American authorities will take into account the provisions of the Convention in their relations with the United Nations.

I am pleased to inform you that the Government of the United States of America now has the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations under study. I shall communicate with you in the near future regarding the specific steps being taken with reference to the Convention.

Your Excellency’s attention is invited to the International Organizations Immunities Act, approved December 29, 1945 (Public Law 291, 79th Congress 1st Session), two copies of which are enclosed. This legislation, as applied to the United Nations by Executive Order No. 9698, February 19, 1946 (11 Federal Register 1809), extends to the United Nations and its personnel many of the privileges, exemptions, and immunities for which provision is made in the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

For the Secretary of State:
Dean Acheson
  1. Not printed.