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

UNP Files, Lot 59 D 237, “Italian Membership”

Memorandum by Mr. David W. Wainhouse, Adviser, United States Delegation to the General Assembly¹

secret

[Paris, November 9, 1951].²

Subject: Italian Membership

At the Foreign Ministers meeting in the Quai d’Orsay today (Nov. 9), M. Schuman opened the discussion on the question of Italian membership in the UN by saying that the three Governments (US, Fr, UK) are under an obligation to make efforts to secure the admission of Italy into the UN. M. Schuman referred to the item submitted by the Trusteeship Council for inclusion in the agenda of the General Assembly relating to the participation of Italy in the work of the Trusteeship Council and stated that Italy, as the Administering Authority of the former Italian territory of Somaliland, is entitled to be treated as a special case for membership in the UN. He accordingly suggested that:

1. The three Foreign Ministers agree to have the item included in the General Assembly agenda and assigned to Committee IV for consideration.

2. Committee IV develop a resolution in which the General Assembly would ask the Security Council to reconsider Italy’s application as a special case.

The Secretary agreed to the suggestion of M. Schuman and Mr. Eden nodded approval.

The position set forth by M. Schuman is in accord with that taken by the Department. There was no consideration given by the Foreign Ministers as to the course we should follow in the event of a veto in the Security Council on the reconsideration of Italy’s application.

The Secretary stated to the other Ministers that Congressman Mansfield would handle the membership question for the United States in the General Assembly.

1. Addressed to Congressman Mansfield, Paul B. Taylor (Executive Officer of the United States Delegation), and O. Benjamin Gerig (Executive Officer for Committee IV Matters).
2. This memorandum actually carries the date of November 10, which presumably is the date it was typed. This same memorandum with a November 12 date was sent on November 12 to Congressman Vorys (USUN Files). Wainhouse in drafting the November 12 memorandum to Vorys changed the name “Mansfield” to “Vorys” in the last paragraph.