Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, The United Nations; The Western Hemisphere, Volume II

310.2/11–851

Briefing Memorandum for Tripartite Ministerial Meeting, at Paris

secret

[Paris,] November 8, 1951.

Question of Italy’s Application for Membership in the UN

united states objectives

In consonance with the Declaration of September 26, 1951 by the United States, France and the United Kingdom, and our previous strong support of Italy’s application for membership, the Department believes the following objectives should be pursued in the Sixth General Assembly Session, after consultation with the United Kingdom and France and agreement with Italy:

1. The United States should sponsor or support in the Fourth Committee, where the question of full participation of Italy in the work of the Trusteeship Council is to be considered, a resolution by which the General Assembly would request the Security Council to reconsider Italy’s application as a special case. The only satisfactory way to remove Italy’s handicap in discharging its trusteeship responsibilities is to have full voting participation in the United Nations.

2. If the course outlined in 1 above is not feasible, the United States may support a special Security Council reconsideration of Italy’s application without prior General Assembly consideration.

3. If efforts to obtain Italy’s admission fail, the United States should support an amendment to Article 86 of the Charter to give Italy full membership in the Trusteeship Council, and consult with other delegates on the possibility of arrangements giving Italy the right to participate in the main General Assembly committees without, presumably, the right to vote.

probable united kingdom and french positions

The discussions in New York have indicated that the United Kingdom and France would probably go along with objectives 1 and 2 and might possibly go along with objective 3.

points which the secretary might make

1. The discussions which USUN officers have had in New York indicate that the United Kingdom and France share generally our difficulties with the Italian proposal that the General Assembly admit Italy to membership on a two-thirds vote without a Security Council recommendation. The International Court of Justice in an advisory opinion has held that the admission of a State cannot be effected by a decision of the General Assembly when the Security Council has made no recommendation for admission.

2. The discussions which USUN have had in New York indicate also that the United Kingdom and France share generally our views concerning the Belaunde Initiative^* because of the basic Charter difficulties.

3. Our representative on the membership item (Congressman Mansfield)¹ should consult with his British and French counterpart on this matter.

1. The Belaunde Initiative is as follows: (1) General Assembly advise Security Council to revise rules to permit applicants for membership present proof of qualifications under Article 4 of the Charter; (2) Such proof of Italy’s qualifications would be studied by Commission of Security Council; (3) If there were objection to Commission’s report (threat of Soviet veto), General Assembly would ask Court for opinion on value of proof offered; (4) If Court ruled favorably, Security Council would have to apply strictly sense of Article 4; (5) Hatter would not be vetoable because Charter leaves no option or choice. [Footnote in the source text.]
1. Congressman Michael J. Mansfield of the United States Delegation to the General Assembly. Mansfield had been delegated responsibility inter alia for the membership question. Subsequently this responsibility seems to have been transferred to Congressman John N. Vorys, of the Delegation, who was handling matters relating to the revision of the Italian peace treaty.