IO Files
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. J. Jefferson Jones, III, Adviser, United States Delegation to the Trusteeship Council
US/T/142
Subject: The Ewe Question
| Participants: | H. R. H. Prince Wan Waithayakon, Thailand Delegation |
| Ambassador Francis B. Sayre, United States Delegation | |
| Mr. J. Jefferson Jones, III, United States Delegation |
Ambassador Sayre said to Prince Wan that he had requested him to lunch with him in order that they might take counsel together as to what would be the most constructive action the Trusteeship Council could take with respect to the Ewe question. Ambassador Sayre stated that the United States Delegation thought that the Anglo-French memorandum on the Ewe question submitted to the Council contained some suggestions which were worthy of careful consideration. For example, we thought that the idea advanced in the memorandum of establishing a joint body, or joint council, composed of representatives of the two Togolands was a good one. We thought, however, that the joint council should be strengthened in that it should be empowered to advise the two administering authorities with respect to educational and political matters as well as social and economic matters. Ambassador Sayre gave to Prince Wan a copy of the resolution embodying the United States views on constructive Council action and said that he hoped that, if Prince Wan agreed with these views, he would be able to join with the United States, and possibly some of [Page 603] the other members of the Council, in co-sponsoring a resolution along these lines.1
Prince Wan stated that he agreed with Ambassador Sayre’s view that there was no permanent solution of the Ewe unification problem which could be effected at this time that would obtain the approval of the majority of the inhabitants of the two trust territories. Prince Wan thought that the idea of a joint commission was a practical one. He cited the collaboration which had taken place between Indo-China and Thailand as an example of what might be accomplished by the establishment of a joint Togoland council with respect to the solution of frontier problems. After reading the draft resolution, he noted with approval the provision in the resolution recommending that the scope of responsibilities of the proposed joint council be broadened to include the giving of advice on political, economic, social, educational, and cultural development matters. He indicated that he thought that the Thailand Delegation would be able to co-sponsor a resolution along these lines with the United States.
- No copy of the draft resolution as such has been found, but see the U.S. text incorporated in Department of State telegram 38, July 18, 4 p. m., infra.↩