IO Files: US/A/M (Chr)/216
Minutes of the Twenty-ninth Meeting of the United States Delegation to the Sixth Regular Session of the United Nations Generai Assembly, Hotel Astoria, Paris, December 10, 1951
[Here follow a list of those present (51), the agenda of the meeting, and discussion of the first agenda item.]
2. Developments in the Disarmament Sub-Committee.
Ambassador Jessup outlined the most recent developments in the Sub-Committee. Padilla Nervo had come up with a memorandum which had been completely unacceptable in that it was inaccurate and slanted to the Soviet viewpoint, and painted “in rosy colors” agreements which did not in fact exist within the Sub-Committee. A revised [Page 610] version of this memorandum had been presented to the Four Powers last night and had met with general approval. A few changes were all that would be needed to make it completely acceptable. These could be made in line with the agreed principle that each power would be free to state its own case, to make corrections in the explanation of its own views. Through this device it would be unnecessary for the United States to append an annex further stating its views. The expectation was that the revised version of Padilla Nervo’s memorandum would be the Report of the Sub-Committee1 and would be submitted as such just before midnight to meet the deadline of the First Committee. Mr. Lloyd of the United Kingdom would speak first on the Western views the next day in Committee One.
In regard to the question of amendments to the tripartite resolution, Ambassador Jessup said that the United Kingdom had some ideas which he was not quite sure would be appropriate. An effort was being made to dissuade them from introducing any. The Department had authorized the Delegation to clarify the language in regard to prohibition of the atom bomb, in regard to the control system, and to make clear that the new Commission could consider any appropriate plans or proposals submitted by other states. Ambassador Jessup felt the United Kingdom might give him some trouble on the question of amendments, and mentioned that they were asking for delay, while the United States wanted to move forward.
In conversations with the United Kingdom and French, the idea had been adopted of suggesting to key delegations, who were usually the source of amendments, that they refrain from tabling any specific amendments but rather make suggestions into their speeches. Then when it came time to create the new Commission the resolution could take into account the debate that had been held on the subject in Committee and thereby authorize the new Commission to consider these points. He felt that the time schedule from all indications would require the First Committee debate to carry on into the following week. This would be unfortunate from our point of view.
The Delegation had no comment to make on Ambassador Jess’s presentation. Mrs. Roosevelt2 considered this silence as approval of the course we had been following in the Sub-Committee.
[Here follows discussion of another subject.]