Office of the Historian

501.BB Balkan/9–949: Telegram

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

secret
New York, September 7, 1949—3:18 p. m.

1062. Be teleconference with Bancroft1 and Popper,2 Ross3 discussed with Cadogan,4 McNaughton5 and Chauvel6 yesterday afternoon current Department thinking re conciliation effort Greek case during Assembly.

Cadogan said he felt sure FO would object strongly to any formula which would allow Russian “interference”. He leans strongly in direction formula putting primary responsibility on Assembly officers. He agreed, however, that if in course their efforts opportunity to get four-power agreement should develop (which he doubted would be the case) then Assembly officers might appropriately bring representatives four powers physically together to confirm such agreement. In any event, Cadogan felt we could not decide in advance whether or in what way four powers should be brought together; circumstances at the time would have to determine our action.

McNaughton’s views were somewhat similar to those of Cadogan. McKaughton has very strong, positive feeling Assembly officers should [Page 400] be used and felt this would be more acceptable to Assembly than four-power consultations without benefit of Assembly officers. He emphasized somewhat more strongly than Cadogan necessity of waiting until exact circumstances are known before making effort to bring four powers together. Assembly officers, he said, could do this at any time it seemed desirable.

Chauvel had no comment except to repeat indication he previously gave us that French FO favors principle of conciliation effort during Assembly.

Austin
  1. Harding F. Bancroft, Director, Office of United Nations Political and Security Affairs.↩
  2. David H. Popper, Officer in Charge of General Assembly Affairs in the Office of United Nations Political and Security Affairs.↩
  3. John C. Ross, Deputy to Ambassador Austin.↩
  4. Ambassador Sir Alexander Cadogan, United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations.↩
  5. A. L. If. McNaughton, Canadian Permanent Representative to the United Nations.↩
  6. Ambassador Jean Chauvel, French Permanent Representative to the United Nations.↩