501.BB/10–849: Telegram

The United States Representative at the United Nations ( Austin ) to the Secretary of State

secret

Delga 71. Draft resolution tentatively agreed with UKDel this morning is contained in next following telegram (Delga 72).1

UKDel held view resolution needed to be substantially strengthened and proposed that we should include paragraphs condemning Soviet bloc. The substance of these paragraphs has been included in draft resolution. We agreed it was perfectly clear that if we desired to strengthen resolution to this extent it must be introduced by UK and USDels and not by Padilla Nervo. Cadogan2 preferred this course. I have been increasingly conscious of the risks involved in allowing matter of such importance to US to be handled by another delegate and in particular a delegate whose sympathies would most certainly lie in the direction of a majority resolution to which all members could subscribe. In view of these factors, Cadogan and I agreed to recommend to our governments that we should ourselves jointly introduce a resolution along the general lines of that in Delga 72.

Question arose whether French should sponsor with us. Chauvel3 thought this unwise, pointing out he had no government at the moment; that French sponsorship would raise problem of the position of China and that the Soviet resolution was pointed most directly at US–UK.

Chauvel made certain suggestions which have been incorporated into the preamble of present resolution. He said he could support US very strongly in debate and vote for this resolution without instructions if his suggestions were incorporated. He indicated his belief that under circumstances wisest course is for US–UK to introduce resolution along present lines.

In the light of these facts, I recommend that we make decision that US–UK will introduce their own substitute resolution at early stage in Committee 1 consideration along lines contained in Delga 72. If this agreed, I propose to inform Padilla Nervo to this effect and seek his support.

Austin
  1. Infra.
  2. Sir Alexander Cadogan, Member of the British Delegation; Permanent British Representative at the United Nations.
  3. Jean Chauvel, Member of the French Delegation; Permanent French Representative at the United Nations.