851G.00/2–347: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France 47
us urgent
469. Reference to Chapter XI of Charter contained in Deptel 431, Feb. 3, did not mean to indicate that matter could be brought to SC attention under Chapter XI as violation of declaration regarding non-self-governing territories. Before situation in Indochina could be brought to SC’s attention, conditions of Chapter VI must be met, i.e., complaining state must allege a dispute or situation of the nature referred to in Art 34 of Charter. It is possible that state bringing complaint might argue before SC that France has violated the principles of Chapter XI. Such a line of argument was put forward in Indonesian case before SC in London.48
Re reference to possible use of veto, by France, it should be made clear that under Four Power Declaration made at San Francisco and SC practice veto cannot be used to prevent matters coming before Council and that Dept believes it would not be in France’s long-range interest to use her veto to prevent substantive Council action.
- Repeated in telegram 671, February 10, 6 p.m., to London.↩
- For American position on Indonesian case at the United Nations Security Council, see footnote 2, Foreign Relations, 1946, vol. viii, p. 787.↩