320/12–1051: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
priority
Delga 581. Re SC elections. At his request, Politis (Greece)1 called ori Gross at evening in considerable state of agitation concerning the developments of the past week on the Grk candidacy for the SC. He affirmed in strongest terms the understanding of the Grk Govt that both UK and Fr had made firm commitments to support Greece and repeatedly characterized their default as “treason”. With respect to Fr commitment, he described circumstantially discussion he had held with Maurice Schumann about ten days ago in which latter had raised with him question of Grk attitude toward placing the Moroccan item on GA agenda.2 Politis said he had explained to Schumann the predicament of the Grk del, which desired to bring up the Cyprus question and which, therefore, cld not vote against putting the Moroccan item on the agenda since in certain respects there was a parallel between the two questions.
However, according to Politis, this discussion with Maurice Schumann concluded on the basis that the Fr wld support the Grk candidacy [Page 119] for the SC in return for which the Grk del wld abstain on the Moroccan question. Politis said he had also discussed the matter with Robert Schuman and indicated that the same understanding has been reached. The Grk Govt was, therefore, at a complete loss to understand why the Fr had reneged. Politis said he had reason to believe the Fr had sought to persuade Belgium and Luxembourg to vote for Byelo.
With regard to Brit position, not only had Greece reed a commitment of support from the Brit Govt, which commitment in addition to our own had induced the Grk Govt to enter the race, but the Grk Govt had later reed a note from Mr. Eden advising them that although the Brit wld vote for Byelo on the first ballot, it wld switch to Greece thereafter. Despite this note, it was clear that the Brit had continued to vote for Byelo up to and including the last ballot taken before the voting was adjourned.
Moreover, said Politis, a Grk correspondent had raised the question with a press officer of the Brit del, who had made the comment that if the Greeks reed 35 or so votes on a subsequent ballot, they shld “feel that their prestige and honor had been maintained” and shld then withdraw from the race.
Politis requested our views. Gross replied that there shld be no question in the mind of the Grk Govt concerning our firm intention to see this matter through. Without characterizing the Brit and Fr action, Gross said we were in strong disagreement with them and intended to maintain the strongest effort at the necessary high levels to persuade both the Brit and Fr Govts that the election of Greece to the SC wld serve the highest interests of the free world.
Gross expressed emphatic disagreement with the reported comment to the Brit press officer and added that there had been some talk of a substitute candidate in the event that subsequent balloting remained indecisive, but that we had taken a firm position against this and that we were actively discouraging to the best of our ability any thoughts along this line.
Gross told Politis he cld take what he had said as the official point of view of the US Govt and make his report accordingly.
Sent Dept Delga 581; rptd info London 912, Athens 67.