501.AC/2–1948
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of United Nations Affairs (Rusk) to the Deputy Director of the Office of United Nations Affairs (Sandifer)
The General Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, adopted during the First Session of the General Assembly, has not yet been acceded to by the United States of America. The procedure authorizing the President of the United States to sign the pact of accession passed through the Senate before its summer recess of 1947. However, the House of Representatives had no time to do the same, and the procedure is still pending before the House.
Mr. Lie1 and Mr. Kerno would be very grateful if the accession of the United States could be effected as soon as possible. The Headquarters Agreement, signed on 26 June 1947 by Secretary of State Marshall and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, is, indeed, in some respect dependent on the General Convention. Moreover, the accession of the United States will certainly precipitate the accession of many other States.
As the activity of the United Nations is spreading over the whole world as a consequence of the creation of different committees of the General Assembly and the Security Council, it is evident that a fairly general acceptance of the General Convention has become very necessary.
- Trygve Lie, Secretary-General of the United Nations.↩