320/12–1251: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin)
Gadel 468. Re Delga 638. Serious consideration given by Dept to question advisability reintroduction Canadian proposal in plenary leads Dept to doubt success of effort and to fear possible consequences on US effectiveness major polit issues. US unlike Sovs has never taken Comite Five defeat to plenary. Adoption Canad proposal in plenary wld be judged to require ⅔ vote. This wld mean broadly speaking that 15 abstentions Comite 5 wld have to be corrected to affirmative votes and major portion of 26 Comite 5 negative votes wld need to be converted to affirmatives or abstentions. This wld require most weighty and urgent pressure many embassies. Despite all out effort issue wld still be in doubt. In view this and in light developments Internatl Court and Security Council election issues,1 and having in mind major polit objectives still to be achieved this GA such as Korea, Ger elections, Sov charges re MSA,2 etc., Dept wld conclude that reserve of US influence shld not be dissipated. Dept also concerned that failure in plenary after all out effort might seriously undermine US position subsequent GA’s and make reduction 33⅓ more difficult. Dept therefore wld recommend no attempt in plenary unless Del feels Dept’s appraisal over-all considerations unduly pessimistic.
[Page 208]Although full objective not achieved by UK, Syrian res, first substantial reduction of 2.02% has been secured, Dept recognizes this in itself difficult achievement in view great proportionate increases required other states and commends Del on success.