501.BC/8–1849
Memorandum of Telephone Conversations, by the Chief of the Division of South Asian Affairs (Mathews)
| Participants: | Mr. Michael Walker, First Secretary, British Embassy |
| Mr. E. G. Mathews, Chief, Division of South Asian Affairs |
- (a)
- Problem: US–UK coordination re Indian candidacy for SC
- (b)
- Action Required: None
- (c)
- Action Assigned To: None
Mr. Walker of the British Embassy telephoned on the afternoon of August 17 to inform the Department that his Government had decided to support India for the SC subject only to clearance from [Page 241] New Zealand and an assurance from the latter that it did not wish to stand itself for the Security Council. Mr. Mathews expressed his appreciation for this information and said that the US position vis-à-vis India’s candidacy was being considered at a Departmental meeting then in session.
Mr. Mathews telephoned Mr. Walker on the morning of August 18 and informed him that a working-level decision to support India for the Security Council had been taken. If the necessary clearances were obtained within the Department, the Indian Ambassador might be informed of the US decision on August 19. Mr. Walker expressed some concern that the UK might not have completed its consultations with New Zealand by the nineteenth, and asked whether in that event it would be possible for the Department to defer its discussions with the Indian Embassy for a day or so. Mr. Mathews said that he would make inquiries and communicate with Mr. Walker later in the day.
At about one o’clock on the afternoon of August 18, Mr. Walker informed Mr. Mathews in the course of a telephone conversation that the UK had received the necessary clearances from New Zealand, and that the way now seemed open for both the UK and the US to inform India of intended support of its candidacy for the Security Council.