501.AA/8–1748: Airgram
The Secretary of State to the Legation in Ireland
A–120. The Department has noted statements by MacBride in the Dail on July 20th that the Irish Government may find it necessary in the near future to consider withdrawing Ireland’s application for membership in the United Nations. Such action would be received with regret by this Government. It would be open to the interpretation that Ireland was less anxious to play her part in the community of nations, an interpretation at variance with the main purport of MacBride’s speech and with the general course of recent Irish foreign policy. It would also be a further reflection upon the prestige of the United Nations, at a time when all efforts are needed to maintain the authority of the organization. Although Irish sensibilities have no doubt been wounded by the failure to obtain admission to membership, the reason for this failure, namely the veto of the Soviet Union given upon grounds not provided for in the Charter, reflects no discredit upon Ireland and cannot damage her position in world opinion. On the other hand, it is difficult to see what benefits, if any, would accrue to Ireland from withdrawing the application.
The United States has voted for the admission of Ireland in the past and is preparing to support the Irish application during the forthcoming General Assembly. The general line of our argument is expected to be that Ireland fulfills the qualifications for membership prescribed in the Charter; that it is a peace-loving state able and willing to accept the obligations of membership; that in its relations with other states and with other international organizations it has demonstrated respect for international commitments; and that for all these reasons Ireland should be allowed to accept the privileges and benefits, as well as the duties, which flow from membership in the organization. While we cannot hold out any hope that the veto will not be used again, the Department feels that more is to be gained by keeping the matter [Page 199] open before the United Nations than by proposals such as MacBride’s to withdraw application.
In your discretion, please see MacBride and communicate to him the substance of the foregoing. You may also inform him in this connection that the United States would be prepared to support an application by Ireland for membership in UNESCO.
Should occasion arise you may wish to thank MacBride for his friendly references to Irish relations with the United States, which are heartily reciprocated.