IO Files: US/A/2739
Memorandum of Conversations, by Mr. John C. Dreier of the United States Delegation Advisory Staff
| Participants: | Ambassador Luis Padilla Nervo, Mexican Delegation |
| Ambassador Antonio Quevedo, Ecuadoran Delegation | |
| Dr. Carlos Blanco, Cuban Delegation | |
| Assistant-Secretary Edward G. Miller, Jr., U.S. Delegation | |
| Mr. John C. Dreier, U.S. Delegation |
1. On Tuesday evening, October 24th, Mr. Miller and Mr. Dreier called on Ambassador Padilla Nervo at his office. Mr. Miller described the position of the US with respect to the appointment of the Secretary-General, making clear that we were prepared to use all the methods including the veto if necessary, to assure the election of Mr. Lie. Mr. Miller emphasized that it was primarily as an act of courtesy and friendship that he had been asked by the Secretary of State to see Dr. Padilla Nervo, whose views we already knew. He [Page 162] emphasized also that we viewed this question as one of principle and not as one involving the relative merits of various personalities.
Dr. Padilla Nervo expressed appreciation for Mr. Miller’s call and reiterated his own views on the question as they had already been conveyed to Mr. Ross and Mr. Dreier on other occasions. He stated in addition that he had already told the Latin-American members of the Security Council and Monsieur Chauvel, of France, that should his name be submitted for a vote, they should say that Padilla Nervo had informed them he did not wish to have his name considered. Padilla Nervo also informed Mr. Miller that he would not accept the Secretary-Generalship even if he were nominated by seven votes of the Security Council with the abstention of any permanent members. He displayed in all respects a very thorough understanding of the issues involved in this case.
In reply to Mr. Miller’s question as to whether Padilla Nervo could consider stating his position in a letter to Ambassador Quevedo, if the latter wrote him asking his views, Padilla Nervo said he had consulted his government with regard to writing a letter and had been told not to do so unless he was asked by a permanent member of the Security Council who wished to nominate him. Padilla Nervo, however, strongly endorsed the idea that Mr. Miller should speak with Ambassador Quevedo and Dr. Blanco before the Security Council meeting the following morning in order to make sure that they understood his position and that of the US fully.
The meeting ended on a most cordial and friendly note.
2. This morning, Mr. Miller and Mr. Dreier met with Ambassador Quevedo and Dr. Blanco at Lake Success. Mr. Miller repeated the US position to these two delegates and called particular attention to the necessity for avoiding any vote on any candidate except Lie at today’s meeting of the Security Council. He repeated what Padilla Nervo had told him yesterday evening regarding his desire not to have his name acted upon in any way.
Ambassador Quevedo said his government had instructed him to vote for Lie and to support Padilla Nervo as second choice. He confirmed that it was impossible for Ecuador to vote against Padilla Nervo if his name were submitted, particularly because of the various occasions on which the Mexican government had supported the Ecuadoran government in its difficulties with Peru. He was much pleased, however, to hear of Dr. Padilla Nerve’s unqualified statement to the effect that his name should be withdrawn from consideration if it were proposed. Quevedo said he would for obvious reasons like to get direct confirmation of this from Padilla Nervo, in which case he would be very happy to state Padilla Nervo’s views in the Security Council should the need arise.
[Page 163]Dr. Blanco said he was under strict instructions from the Cuban government to support Mr. Lie so long as the Big Five did not agree on another candidate. He said he had been informed of the attitude of Padilla Nervo and was prepared to express those views in the Security Council should an effort be made to place Padilla Nervo’s name in active consideration.
As the group broke up, we were joined by Dr. Noriega, of Mexico, who confirmed to Quevedo and Blanco the views of Dr. Padilla Nervo as described by Mr. Miller. The two Latin-Americans were very glad to have this direct word from the Mexican Delegation.