320/9–1752
Memorandum for the File, by the Ambassador at Large (Jessup)
At the 9:30 meeting this morning the Secretary brought up the question of preparing the US position on the various issues which the Arab-Asian group are placing on the agenda of the General Assembly. He said that in the past we have tried to stay in the middle with the result that everyone is mad at us. He referred to Byroade’s suggestion that we should just blaze ahead and “be true to ourselves”. He said we don’t want to Balkanize the Middle East. We must consider what we will have in the end. The UN has put us in a terrible situation in which any irresponsible person like Nehru can make us discuss and vote on any question at all. Debating and voting constitute actions although they accomplish nothing. They have us across a barrel. Is there any course to take in the national interest which will bring us to a better outcome than we have reached now or must we drift on in a middle position? He would like to avoid last minute briefing on details which require him to make a quick decision on such questions as inscribing an item on the agenda. In such cases he is presented with conflicting advice from the different offices in the Department. Some say we should vote to inscribe the item but then shift to the other side of the controversy when we deal with the resolution. We need the best thought the Department can supply on the problem as a whole. There has been no such general thought as yet.
Mr. Bruce referred to the discussion of the same subject in the Secretary’s office yesterday afternoon and said they had concluded that I should be asked to take charge of pulling together the recommendations which the Secretary desires.
The Secretary inquired whether he should meet at once with Nitze and me and Byroade and Perkins and Hickerson. Mr. Nitze suggested that he and I first look into the matter and get it lined up in shape for discussion. The Secretary agreed.