Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, General; the United Nations, Volume I, Part 2

560.AL/1–2448: Telegram

The Ambassador in Cuba (Norweb) to the Secretary of State

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Habana, January 24, 1948—5 p. m.

101. For Brown and Hickerson from Wilcox.

1. Subcommittee consideration occupied areas amendment article 99 postponed twice over week, last time at our instance over strong objections Poles, Austrians. Meeting now scheduled 6 Monday evening 26th. Impracticable delay consideration further.

2. UK Delegation and French Delegation have no authority to agree to US amendment and will not support it.

3. If US delegation follows instruction Toito 355¹ to push ahead vigorously to obtain adherence provisions for occupied areas: (a) UK and France will openly oppose amendment in Subcommittee, (b) break between occupying powers will make headline story, (c) Poles obviously delighted our embarrassment, (d) our only support in Subcommittee would be Belgium, India and perhaps Denmark, Italy, Mexico; certain opposition UK, France, Czechoslovakia, Poland, China and probably Austria, Argentina, Uruguay, (e) amendment would be rejected.

4. Unless British and French governments send instructions their delegations here before 6 Monday evening to support US position US delegation has these alternatives:

(a) withdraw amendment, leaving status occupied areas ambiguous, (b) support amendment, committing other delegations to opposition, forcing break with UK, France and provoking unfavorable publicity, (c) propose alternate amendment inserting occupied areas article 68, paragraph 5 Geneva text.

Last course might delay decision and give time for Embassy London, and Paris persuade British and French Foreign Ministers to instruct; their delegations to support US position.

5. US delegation recommends (c). Should have instructions by Monday noon. If Department approves (c) should take steps get British and French Delegations instructed before Friday January 30.

6. Czechoslovakia will not accept original US amendment “at any stage.” If amendment finally adopted with British-French support. Czechoslovakia will not join ITO.² If Department still believes it desirable press this amendment, will immediately bring issue to this point and should clear with Secretary or Undersecretary soonest. In this connection should consider that Czechoslovakia has given US vigorous and effective support throughout negotiations here and is obviously anxious to use adherence to ITO as means of retaining economic contacts with western powers. [Wilcox.]

Norweb

1. Not printed.
2. In telegram Toito 355, January 23, not printed, the Department had advised the delegation that it tended to favor “inclusion of occupied areas in charter even if it meant loss Czech adherence but if issue comes to this point, decision would have to be cleared with Secretary or Undersecretary.” (560.AL/1–2348)