Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, The United Nations; The Western Hemisphere, Volume II

IO Files: US/A/C.1/2188

Memorandum of Conversation

confidential

[New York,] October 23, 1950.

Participants:	Dr. Ales Bebler—	Yugoslav Delegation
	Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.	—United States Delegation
	Mr. Louis Henkin
	Mr. Thomas J. Cory

Dr. Bebler today handed to Senator Lodge an amended draft resolution on the “Duties of States in the Event of the Outbreak of Hostilities” and expressed his hope that the amendments would take care of the various American objections set forth on October 11 (US/A/C.1/2125).¹ A copy of the amended draft resolution is attached.

In reply to Dr. Bebler’s inquiry, Senator Lodge stated his belief that the “Uniting for Peace” resolution is a major achievement in the history of the United Nations and will greatly benefit Yugoslavia’s position vis-á-vis the Cominform States. Senator Lodge failed to see how the two Yugoslav draft resolutions could be of much additional assistance. The Senator added that he had been authorized to state that if the Commission or a sub-group is sent to Yugoslavia, the United States representative on the Peace Observation Commission will be especially alert to the fears of Yugoslavia and to any threats to its security from the Cominform States.

Dr. Bebler was further informed that the United States believes the General Assembly will not be in a mood to consider the two draft resolutions after it has finished with the Soviet “Peace Declaration”. By then it already will have spent a great deal of time on peace machinery. Furthermore, it appears that few other Delegations have shown much interest in the two draft resolutions.

The United States Delegation therefore felt that, for these and other reasons which previously have been explained to Dr. Bebler, the first draft resolution on the “Duties of States” should not be pushed at this session, especially since the United States probably could not support it regardless of amendments. Dr. Bebler was asked whether he had given thought to having this item postponed until the Sixth General Assembly, for consideration at that time in conjunction with the “Declaration on the Rights and Duties of States”. Senator Lodge, however, promised to submit the amended draft resolution to the United States Delegation and the Department of State for further study.

Dr. Bebler was informed that the United States Delegation thinks there is an idea worth studying in the second draft resolution on the “Establishment of a Permanent Commission of Good Offices”. It was suggested to him that this draft could well be referred to the Interim Committee for study in conjunction with the Lebanese draft resolution of 1948.

Dr. Bebler did not seem particularly surprised or displeased at the American objections. Dr. Bebler seemed to concede that “Uniting for Peace” had reduced considerably the value of the two Yugoslav draft resolutions, but he still hoped the United States might support at least his first resolution and will await the results of our study of his amended draft.

[Attachment]

Text of Revised Yugoslav Draft Resolution Handed to Senator Lodge by Dr. Bebler, New York, October 23, 1950²

[Here follows the text of the preamble, which is the same as that of the original draft resolution; see GA (V), Annexes, Volume II, fascicule 72.]

Considers that every State, having become engaged in hostilities with another State or with other States, shall, at their very outset, and in any case not later than 24 hours thereafter, make a public statement, whereby it will proclaim its readiness to issue a cease fire order, prohibit the violation of air space and withdraw its armed forces beyond the frontier or demarcation line or from the territorial waters of the opposing party, insofar as it has crossed the said boundary or entered the said territorial waters,

and that each of these States shall, at midnight on the day on which the said statements are made, put the cease fire order into effect, cease the violation of air space and begin the withdrawal of its armed forces beyond the frontier or demarcation line or from the territorial waters of the opposing party, this withdrawal to be completed not later than within 48 hours from the moment of the cease fire;

Calls upon every State which is engaged in hostilities against another State or States immediately to inform the Secretary-General about the outbreak of hostilities and the statement made, so that, if need be, measures falling within the competence of the United Nations may be taken;

Determines that every State which, having become engaged in hostilities with another State or with other States, does not make the above statement, or, which, having made it, fails to act in accordance with the provisions of the previous paragraph, shall be considered an aggressor and shall be held responsible before the international community for the breach of the peace;

Determines that the provisions of the present resolution in no way impair the general obligations of States under the Charter or the decisions or recommendations of the Security Council, General Assembly, or any other competent organ of the United Nations;

Determines that the present resolution shall not apply to the measures taken by the United Nations, or by other States coming to the assistance of a State which has become the victim of aggression, in accordance with the obligation of collective defense.

1. Not printed. In a meeting between Senator Lodge and Dr. Bebler on October 11, Lodge had voiced U.S. objections to the two resolutions along the lines set forth to the U.S. Delegation by Mr. Henkin in the meeting of October 23.
2. The italic portions indicate additions to the original text, except for the word “considers” in the first paragraph and the word “determines” in the fourth paragraph. This amended text, minus the italics, was sent to the Department in telegram Delga 179, October 24, 7 p. m., with the recommendation: “Staff believes revision does not cure basic difficulties and defects Yugoslav proposal. Will suggest Senator Lodge so inform Bebler unless Department perceives objection.” (320/10–2450). In Telegram Delga 179, October 25, 2 p. m., to USUN, the Department indicated agreement with the view that the revised Yugoslav resolution did not overcome original objections (320/10–2550).