645K.51T3/7–351: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
23. For Gerig from Sayre. Re Ewe question. At meeting administering powers today Brit Fr gave us copy redraft their joint memorandum on Ewe question (ourtel 1731 June 27) embodying suggestions made by various reps including US present at June 28 meeting. Redraft pouched Dept tonight.
Most significant changes in redraft follow:
- 1.
- Order of memorandum is changed to put “more positive” provisions, i.e., those relating to joint advisory commission for two Togolands, in first part of memorandum followed by portions of memorandum explaining why Ewe or Togoland unification not practicable.
- 2.
- Effort was made to avoid impression door closed permanently unification by revising para 17. Key sentence this para now reads: “For reasons which are analyzed in detail in concluding section this memorandum, they (administering authorities) have reached decision based on fullest possible consultation with people of territories it is conclusively demonstrated no solution involving alteration boundaries or political allegiance can currently be proposed which commands general assent of peoples of two territories or even agreement of majority.”
- 3.
- Functions of joint development commission somewhat more clearly delineated in redraft. For example, redraft states one important feature of functions of new body will be “advise administering authorities on projects common interest on which they consider it necessary funds should be expended and on priority which should be accorded among such projects in expenditure of funds as they become available for such purposes from respective administrations.”
Burns (UK) told me he had transmitted to London US suggestion that minutes of consultative commission sessions be issued separately but had received reply UK Govt considered advisable issue them as annexes to memorandum.
Redraft has now been submitted London and if clearance obtained it will be given secretariat for distribution to council in near future, probably Thursday.1
Our preliminary comment is that redraft, although it constitutes improvement over original memorandum, leaves much to be desired particularly in form of presentation and will probably arouse unfavorable reaction among at least some non-administering members TC. Dept will be kept advised comments other members TC. [Sayre.]
- Subsequently the joint Anglo-French memorandum was submitted to the Trusteeship Council as Doc. T/931, July 5, 1951; with annexes (Doc. T/931/Add. 1, July 6, 1951). For texts, see TC (IX), Annexes, fascicule for agenda item 12.↩