Office of the Historian

501.BB/8–1949

Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Hickerson) to the Secretary of State

restricted
[Washington,] August 19, 1949.

[Subject:] Secretary’s Participation in Fourth Regular Session of United Nations General Assembly

Discussion:

As the Secretary is aware, it is contemplated that, in accordance with the practice at other regular sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, he will attend the earlier portion of the forthcoming session, which opens on September 20, and will serve as Chairman of the United States Delegation during his presence in New York. According to present plans, the Delegation will meet in the Department on Monday and Tuesday, September 12 and 13, for consultation on important issues which will arise in the Assembly. The Delegation will assemble in New York on Monday, September 19.

Recommendations:

1.
That the Secretary plan to attend as large a portion of the September 12–13 meetings as his schedule will permit. Every effort will be made to have questions of major political importance discussed when he can be present.
2.
That the Secretary plan to be in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 20 and 21, and that his schedule include:
a.
Attendance at the opening session of the Assembly;
b.
Delivery of the United States statement in the general debate;1
c.
Conversations, as appropriate and practicable, with Foreign Ministers attending the session; and
d.
A reception for ranking members of participating delegations and United Nations officials at which the Secretary would be host.
  1. For Mr. Acheson’s general debate statement to the General Assembly on September 21, see United Nations, Official Records of the General Assembly, Fourth Session, Plenary Meetings, pp. 5–8.↩