501.BC Greece/7–947: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Colombia
us urgent
niact
354. There follows excerpt from tel 636 July 8 from US Mission to UN to Dept1 reporting attitudes of various members of SC concerning recommendations of SC Balkan Investigating Commission (these recommendations are embodied in US Resolution now before SC copy of which is sent you by separate tel).
[Here follow three paragraphs quoted from telegram 636, which noted that the Colombian Delegate was considering proposing an amendment to the United States resolution which would eliminate the investigatory features of the proposed semi-permanent commission and emphasize exclusively its conciliatory features.]
Unless you see objection please urgently approach FonOff on following lines: US Govt attaches great importance to solution of Greek question, both from point of view of specific situation in question and that of UN prestige and future effectiveness. Failure of Council to act effectively now may be fatal to UN as organ of international security. We think, and assume Colombian Govt agrees, that recommendations of investigating commission as embodied in our resolution in SC provide satisfactory means of settlement but we believe any weakening [Page 871] of substance of resolution would be extremely injurious. Consequently we consider it important that all members who signed majority report of commission (including Colombia) should stand firm on position already taken and avoid any appearance of willingness to compromise on such substantial questions us investigatory powers of proposed new commission or its authority to conduct its investigations in the territory of all four nations concerned. We consider it most important that commission have these powers. We hope Col Govt will urgently instruct its Council representative this sense. You may point out that as Council debate seems nearing climax and as we understand Lopez may speak tomorrow or in next day or two, time is of essence.2
- Not printed; Ambassador Johnson advised that during the afternoon session of the Security Council the United States Delegation was informed of the weakening of certain delegations in their support of the recommendations of the Commission of Investigation. He concluded that “It is important that the majority of nine approving the Balkan Commission’s recommendations be maintained since this solid majority increases the onus on USSR should it veto and enhances our ability to take further steps regarding the Greek case if USSR should veto.” 501.BC Greece/7–847)↩
- In telegram 470, July 11, the Embassy in Bogota reported information from the Colombian Foreign Office that categorical instructions had been sent to New York embodying the Government’s view that the proposed new commission have full and complete authority with unhampered investigatory powers (501.BC Greece/7–1147).↩