IO Files: Lot 55D323, Box 16515, “Privileges and Immunities”
Minutes of Meeting of the Committee on Visa Problems
Subject: Minutes of Meeting of the Committee on UN Visa Problems.
| Participants: | Mr. Alexander—VD1 |
| Mr. Andrews—Department of Justice | |
| Mr. Devaney—Department of Justice | |
| Mr. Drury—FC2 | |
| Mr. Harlow—VD3 | |
| Mr. Henkin—UNI4 | |
| Mr. McDermott—SA/M5 | |
| Mr. Meeker—Le/P6 | |
| Mr. Mokma—CON7 |
The meeting was called to decide upon a definition of the UN “Headquarters District and its Immediate Vicinity” as related to the problem of individuals attending the UN who would otherwise be considered as inadmissable aliens.
Mr. Henkin discussed the five suggested areas and possible delimitation by county lines or by a highway-river-county line combination. Mr. Devaney stated that in his view the size of the area might depend on the legal question of the authority of the Attorney General to control the movements of UN personnel into and within that area. Mr. Henkin indicated that while these questions are of course related, the legal question was under consideration by the Policy Committee on Immigration and Naturalization and that it did not seem appropriate [Page 62] for this Committee to consider the matter. While it might be helpful to postpone the delimitation of the area until the legal question was decided, Mr. Alexander in particular thought that the area should be settled as soon as possible.
Mr. Devaney said that a boundary defined by county lines would have the advantage of coinciding with the area of responsibility assigned to immigration enforcement officers. He stated further that while the problem of enforcement would be more difficult in a larger area, there would be also an increased number of violations if the area were not sufficiently liberal. Mr. Mokma thought that a flat radial distance would be easier to observe than a complicated system of outline which might appear clear on paper but in practice would be difficult to observe. The discussion continually recurred to the question whether within the “Headquarters District and its Immediate Vicinity” the Immigration Service might restrict the activities of individual correspondents, representatives of non-governmental organizations and other visitors who are Communists. In that case, Mr. Andrews suggested, if the number of cases involved were not too great each might feasibly be handled on an individual basis and the area of limitation would not be so important.
Returning to the question of area it was generally agreed that in view of the fact that the actual location of the UN site is already in a vital security area a narrow limitation would accomplish little. It was felt that the area should include reasonable communicating distance around New York City. Mr. Meeker thought that a reasonable area should provide adequate recreational facilities. It was his opinion, shared by Mr. Henkin, that Philadelphia and Atlantic City might be considered within the area. Other members of the meeting felt that “immediate vicinity” should not be construed so broadly as to lose its meaning and its purpose as a confined area. On the other hand Mr. Henkin said that so long as the limitation was not actually related to security the U.S. should be generous and should exert every effort to avoid making the area so restrictive as to interfere with the activities of the UN by discouraging individuals who might be limited from coming to the headquarters. Mr. McDermott pointed out that the position taken by the U.S. on the question of a restrictive area would be reflected in the treatment accorded our correspondents in “iron curtain” countries.
After much discussion, the members of the Committee approved a “reasonable communicating distance” of approximately 70 miles from New York City and agreed to include:
[Page 63]All of Long Island
The state of New Jersey as far south as and including Mercer and Monmouth Counties
Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester Counties in New York
New Haven, Fairfield and Litchfield Counties in Connecticut
It was agreed to transmit this conclusion as a basis for negotiation by USUN of an agreement with the UN. The Committee understood, of course, that some changes in detail might be made as a result of those negotiations and that the area decided upon was an indication to USUN as to the views of the Department in this matter.
- Robert C. Alexander, Assistant Chief of the Visa Division.↩
- Louis M. Drury, Assistant Chief of the Division of Foreign Activity Correlation.↩
- William M. Harlow of the Visa Division.↩
- Louis Henkin of the Division of International Administration.↩
- Michael J. McDermott, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Press Relations.↩
- Leonard C. Meeker, Assistant to the Legal Adviser.↩
- Gerald A. Mokma of the Office of Controls.↩