501.BB/9–2349: Telegram
The Secretary of State in New York to the Acting Secretary of State
confidential
Delga 19. For [From] Hickerson. Following preliminary views on possible alternative courses of action for handling new Soviet resolution (Delga 161), which were developed in meeting of members of GADel staff tonight, may be of interest to Department.
First possibility would be to have GC recommend separate reference for each paragraph of Soviet draft resolution. First paragraph would be referred directly to plenary, where it would be voted down. Second paragraph would go to Ad Hoc Political Committee for consideration in conjunction with atomic energy item. Third paragraph would go to Committee 1, under new title such as “adoption of additional measures to strengthen the peace,” so as not to perpetuate title of Soviet draft resolution. In first committee this paragraph would be amended so as to recommend measures to strengthen peace such as application of last year’s GA veto resolution and a recommendation along lines of suggestion in Secretary’s GA speech that members agree to accept GA recommendations as binding in certain cases.
Advantage of this method of procedure would be that it would fragmentize Soviet resolution and prevent any possibility of Soviets claiming credit for single resolution embodying generalities on subject of peace which Soviets could claim as their own, as in case of 1947 warmongering resolution.
Second possible course of action would be to have general committee recommend reference of Soviet resolution to Committee, with an understanding or recommendation if necessary that paragraph 2 be discussed in connection with atomic energy in Ad Hoc Political Committee. In first committee we would substitute an acceptable resolution for paragraphs 1 and 3 of Soviet draft which might include material similar to 1948 GA Mexican resolution (190(III))2 and matter covered in suggested amendment to paragraph 3 of Soviet resolution in preceding paragraph. This would be done by amendment which would be voted upon before Soviet text. Advantage of this course would be that [Page 90] it would avoid giving Soviets opportunity for propaganda effort in several different GA forums.