Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, General; The United Nations, Volume I

IO Files: US/A/569

Memorandum by the Principal Executive Officer of the United States Delegation (Sandifer) to Mr. Adlai E. Stevenson of the United States Delegation

secret

[New York,] October 4, 1947.

I understand from Mr. Rusk that during the course of a discussion of other matters in the Secretary’s office, Ambassador Austin raised the question of what our reply should be to Padilla Nervo’s inquiry as to the reasons for our supporting India for the Security Council and opposing the Ukraine. After some discussion the Secretary indicated that Ambassador Austin might give a reply to him along the following lines, briefly summarized:

1. We have good reasons for supporting India in place of Ukraine.

2. The Ukraine is not an independent state although admitted to membership in the United Nations.

3. There is a difference in the qualifications for membership in the United Nations and for membership in the Security Council (Article 23).

4. Our experience during the past year with reference to the maintenance of peace and security does not incline us to put the Ukraine in the position of having a vote in the Security Council at this time.

5. We would have been glad to accept Czechoslovakia as a member of the Security Council, showing that we do not oppose the geographic allocation to Eastern Europe of two seats on the Security Council. This possibility was frustrated by the Czechs and the Russians themselves although we had been led to believe until shortly before the opening of the Security Council elections that both countries would acquiesce in the election of Czechoslovakia.

6. Normally we would accept Yugoslavia as a member of the Security Council but as that state is now engaged in acts of aggression against a member of the United Nations in violation of the Charter, we do not consider it appropriate to support its election to that organ of the United Nations having primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security.

7. We consider that India is a state well qualified for membership in the Security Council under all the qualifications laid down in the Charter. Furthermore, she is located in the general geographic area in question.

8. We did not urge the Latin American states to vote for India because we did not want to be in the position of exerting pressure to that end. However, since the Mexican Delegation has inquired concerning our position, we want you to know that we think there is an important difference between India and the Ukraine in relation to their election to membership in the Security Council.