501.BC/4–2549
Memorandum by Mr. John C. Ross, Deputy to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Rusk)
Enclosed is copy of self-explanatory memorandum2 setting forth a request by India for United States support in the Security Council elections next fall. For the last two or three years I have been personally very sympathetic to the idea of a place for India on the Security Council, and I think there are a good many reasons why we should support India next fall and undertake at an early date a commitment in this regard with due reservation to protect our position against unforeseen circumstances which might between now and next fall change our view.
Among the reasons why I feel we should support India are the following:
- 1.
- I think that India is in a position to make a very substantial contribution to the “maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the organization” as set forth in Article 23 of the Charter. This ability to contribute derives not only from India’s great population and actual and potential wealth, but also from her geographic location and the fact that she is already clearly in a position of leadership among a very substantial group or Asiatic countries.
- 2.
- The election of India to the Council would further strengthen the principle of equitable geographic distribution while, at the same time, preserving the general idea of having a second British Commonwealth Member on the Council. I heard very vaguely from Sam Atyeo3 that [Page 235] Australia might be interested in election to the Council next fall to succeed Canada. Australia, of course, has already been on the Council and for other reasons I must say I do not sympathize very much with this idea. Furthermore, it does not seem to me that any other Commonwealth Member at the present time, with the possible exception of New Zealand, is in a position to make as substantial a contribution as India.
- 3.
- It is still a bit too early to estimate the probable effect on Chinese Membership in the Council of what appears to be the virtually certain Communist domination of China.4 It seems likely, however, that China, as the sole Asiatic representative on the Council, will not be a very strong support. As a counterpoise, not only in the Security Council but generally, I should think that there is a great deal to be said for having India on the Council in addition to China.
- 4.
- At one time we were hesitant about supporting India for the Security Council because we were not sure just where India stood in relations between the East and the West. It began to be clear at Paris5 and I believe has become increasingly clear that India’s sympathies lie with the West.
- 5.
- We seem to be well on the way to solution of the Kashmir problem,6 which solution should entail the virtual, if not complete pacification of the sub-continent.
The foregoing are, of course, personal thoughts which I want you and others concerned in the Department to have. I do think that it would be advantageous, if possible, for us to reach a prompt decision on this particular case with due regard, as indicated above, for any reservations we might consider it necessary to make.
- Not printed.↩
- S. L. Atyeo, advisory member of the Australian Delegation to the meeting in progress at this time at New York of the second part of the third regular session of the General Assembly.↩
- See pp. 281 ff.↩
- This refers to the meeting at Paris, September 21 to December 12, 1948, of the first part of the third regular session of the General Assembly.↩
- Documentation regarding the Kashmir question is scheduled for publication in volume vi .↩