320/1–2352: Telegram
The Acting Chairman of the United States Delegation to the General Assembly (Roosevelt) to the Secretary of State
priority
Delga 1148. For Hickerson (UNA) from Gross. Re: Membership. After frank and sympathetic explanation to Guidotti re US position on Sov SC res on membership (pursuant Gadel 755, Jan 18), I explained our position to Brit, French, and, following that, to Muniz (Braz), Santa Cruz (Chile), Balluseck (Neth), Kyrou (Greece) and Sarper (Turk). I have now recd letter from Guidotti (transmitted Delga 1149, Jan 23).1
Obviously Dept’s position re Sov res is most displeasing to Itals, as Dept understood. I have understood that our task is to “minimize adverse Ital reaction while opposing res in a way which cannot be misunderstood”. But Guidotti’s task is to do all he can to get seven SC votes for Sov res, and anything we do which interferes with formation of a seven-vote majority is deeply resented.
Muniz, who asked for bur views, told me he had previously advised Guidotti he wld recommend his govt vote for SC res only if US “acquiesced” in Sov res. Accordingly, when I told him we did not acquiesce but opposed, he told me he wld recommend Braz either abstain or vote against Sov res since any other course he wld consider “unfriendly to US”.
I am certain we can now anticipate that Ital Govt will with great excitement complain to Amer Embassy Rome that I am sabotaging and scuttling Ital aspirations. I have been most frank and friendly with Guidotti, and he has no reason whatever to say he has misunderstood our position, which both Allen and I explained to him fully. I made it a point to tell him precisely what we were going to say to our colleagues on council.
In addition I made clear in Comite I debate yesterday our opposition to Sov packages res tabled in comite,2 and Guidotti, I understand, is very upset about our attack upon this res. The line I took yesterday now confirmed by instructions in Gadel 793, Jan 22.
Under these circumstances I am sure both Dept and Emb will realize that US GADel’s position here vis-à-vis Guidotti is not too comfortable and that latter may well feel he must cover himself with his govt because of his previous over-optimistic reports to his govt.
Sent Dept Delga 1148; rptd info Rome 389. [Gross.]