501.BB/10–1749: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin)
priority
Gadel 61. Ref Gadel 57.1 USDel should inform UKDel and Emb London shld inform FonOff that US Govt agrees with Mr. Bevin on over-riding importance of Brit and Amer military strategic objectives in Cyrenaica and Tripolitania and agrees every effort shld be made to avoid prejudicing attainment those objectives. US Govt, however, is not alarmed over developments in GA and does not feel that resolution providing unity and independence for Libya by 1952, as now emerging from sub-comite, need prejudice attainment our objectives. While favoring unity of Libya, US has no objection to federation which wld permit agreements applicable to separate parts of Libya. Our view is that such arrangements cld be made with a federated Libyan govt.
Dept notes that GA sub-comite approved appointment of UN Commissioner to be assisted by Advisory Council with terms reference which appear to meet most of Mr. Bevin’s objections.
US is also opposed to any direct UN trusteeship unless Slav participation therein is precluded.
Consequently, US Del will continue its efforts to achieve disposition Itcols acceptable to GA which will not cut across major aims on which our two govts are agreed.
- Not printed; it reported the text of a statement handed to Under Secretary Webb by the British Ambassador on October 14, 1949, expressing Bevin’s concern about developments in the General Assembly on the disposition of the Italian colonies (501.BB/10–1549).↩