Office of the Historian

501.AA/7–847: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State

secret
London, July 8, 1947—4 p.m.

3720. We had today further discussion with Jebb re UN membership (Deptel 2867, July 3) with results as follows. Subject is Still being discussed at technical level with inter-departmental committee meeting to take place next week. Following are official views only. Matter has not been considered at Cabinet level.

1.
Albania submission of Corfu incident court will be considered sine qua non to admission UN even under blanket arrangement. If Albania continues publicly to flout recommendations of SC, British think harm rather than good would be done by admitting her under any conditions to UN. As part of a blanket arrangement, they would be prepared to drop requirement that Albania accept majority decision Greek frontier commission but would insist she stop shooting at Greeks.
2.
As of interest Jebb says that David Owen, Assistant Secretary UN, who is returning from ECAFE meetings Shanghai says Chinese are determined to blackball Outer Mongolia.
3.
Further consideration will be given to possible Austrian application and we will be informed.1
4.
Italy. Jebb admits that co-belligerent status might improve Italy’s position but fears USSR would counter by claiming co-belligerent status from Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and possibly Finland. British, like ourselves, favor earliest possible date admission Italy. If it becomes obvious that USSR will prevent Italian treaty from becoming effective, Jebb thinks we should reclaim our freedom of action and sign separate treaty with Italy.2
5.
Finland. Jebb says British have informed USSR they are prepared to ratify Finnish treaty whenever Soviets wish. Matter rests therefore with USSR. UK still has however he says, complete freedom of action with respect admission of Finland UN and it is inconceivable British could agree to admission Finland unless Rire admitted. Portugal is not so important. So long, therefore, as Soviets veto Eire, UK will veto Finland. Jebb thinks Finland is too close to USSR to go counter to USSR policies and therefore could not appropriately be considered neutral even though Finnish people might desire to be so.
6.
In respect of new applications British preoccupation is basically to prevent increase in Soviet influence. We will report again following inter-departmental meeting next week.
Douglas
  1. The Embassy reported further on July 12 that “Jebb has discussed further in Foreign Office question admission Austria UN (Mytel 3720, July 8). There are differences of opinion in Foreign Office but controlling view at moment is that Austria is not free agent and therefore not eligible. Cadogan [Sir Alexander Cadogan, British Permanent Representative to the United Nations] has been instructed to discuss matter with us but present British position is to abstain if issue comes to vote.” (Telegram 3815 to London, July 12, file No. 501.AA/7–1247)↩
  2. For documentation regarding questions relating to the Italian peace treaty, see vol. iii, pp. 515 ff.↩