501.BC/1–649: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin)
5. Dept does not favor SC consideration at this time of Article 43 agreements or Statute and Rules of Procedure of MSC.
The Security Council consideration of this was stalled in the summer of 1947 by the Soviet position that acceptance of its views on principles was a prerequisite to starting negotiation of agreements. Under present circumstances there does not appear to be any likelihood that this position of the Soviet Union can be changed. It is believed, therefore, that consideration of the question at this time would result in exacerbation of world conditions without any corresponding gain towards the ultimate objective, and would divert SC from more constructive work.
Dept doubts wisdom or necessity of diverting SC attention from more important matters to consideration MSC Statute and Rules at this time. Such diversion might have the undesirable effect of focusing attention on Article 43 question.
For your information only, there is serious reservation as to whether it would be advantageous to the US to press for the implementation of Article 43 at this time, and whether the US could in fact make available armed forces at this time. Under these circumstances, SC discussions now definitely undesirable.