Office of the Historian

501.AA/8–2148: Telegram

Mr. John C. Ross of the United States Mission at the United Nations to the Secretary of State

secret
priority
New York, August 21, 1948—3:38 p. m.

1047. Confirming telephone conversation Rusk1 this morning, following end last night of closed SC meeting on adoption report, Jessup had opportunity to discuss briefly and casually with Malik2 question possible change USSR attitude towards Italian membership in UN in light of Soviet proposals Italian Trusteeship former Italian Colonies (Deptel 541, August 17).3

Malik said he had no information on this subject, and after a moment’s hesitation asked Jessup if he had new proposals to make regarding the Italian Colonies.

Jessup replied that he had no suggestions at all concerning the Italian Colonies and added that Malik’s government was familiar with position U.S. Government as presented at meetings of deputies.

Jessup then added that he would be curious to know whether there might not be some change in the Soviet attitude towards Italian membership in view of their attitude toward the former Italian Colonies.

Malik repeated that he had no information on this subject, and Jessup very casually suggested that he might wish to inquire concerning his government’s viewpoint.

Ross
  1. Dean Rusk, Director of the Office of United Nations Affairs.↩
  2. Yakov A. Malik, Permanent Representative of the Soviet Union at the United Nations.↩
  3. The Department concerted with the United States Mission by means of a telephone call and telegram 541 to authorize an approach to the Soviet Representative along the lines indicated here (501.AA/8–1748).

    For documentation regarding the question of the disposition of the former Italian colonies, see vol. iii, pp. 891 ff.

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