315.3/9–253

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Murphy)1

  • Subject:
  • Telephone Call of Vice President Nixon

Vice President Nixon telephoned me this morning referring to the decision of the United Nations Tribunal regarding the employees dismissed by the Secretary General.2 He said that he could only characterize the action as catastrophic, coming as it does at a moment when the situation in the United States as it concerns the United Nations is definitely unfavorable. He referred to a violent attack made by former Commander Wilson at the St. Louis meeting of the American Legion, from which the Vice President had just returned, as an indication of sentiment in that organization regarding the United Nations. He feared that the members of the Tribunal in considering the technical features relating to the status of the dismissed employees overlooked completely American public opinion as well as opinion in the Congress. He feared that a possible effect of the decision, unless Hammarskjold found it possible to stand up, would be to stimulate members of Congress to vote against appropriations for the United Nations.

I told the Vice President that the Secretary and the Department are fully alive to the problem and shared his concern.

I also talked with Ambassador Wadsworth in Mr. Lodge’s absence, informing him of Mr. Nixon’s point of view. He is discussing the matter with the Secretary General today. Mr. Phleger is making a careful examination of legal aspects of this matter.

Robert Murphy
  1. Copies to the Secretary, L–Mr. Phleger, UNA, USUN, and DC/R.
  2. The Aug. 23, 1953 decisions of the Administrative Tribunal are outlined and discussed in the Department’s circular telegram of Oct. 5, 1953, printed, p. 352.