320/9–2452
Memorandum by the Ambassador at Large (Jessup) to the Secretary of State
- Subject:
- Possible Conferences of the Secretary With Various Foreign Ministers at the time of the UN General Assembly
1. In line with our discussion I have explored the desirability and feasibility of developing a definite program of bilateral talks with the Foreign Ministers attending the UNGA, concentrating on those from the Latin American, the Far Eastern, and the Near Eastern areas.
2. The following is a tabulation by areas of the Foreign Ministers who will or may attend the General Assembly:
| Certain | Probable | Possible | |
| ARA (1) | Brazil | (2) Costa Rica | |
| Paraguay | |||
| FE (4) | Indonesia | ||
| Korea | |||
| Nat. China | |||
| Thailand | |||
| NEA (7) | Iraq | (2) Greece | (1) Libya |
| Ethiopia | Turkey | ||
| Liberia | |||
| Israel | |||
| Egypt | |||
| Pakistan | |||
| India (Mme. Pandit) | |||
| Total (12) | (2) | (3) | |
| EUR (10) | At opening | ||
| Australia | (5) Belgium | ||
| Canada | Czechoslovakia | ||
| Luxembourg | Poland | ||
| Netherlands | USSR | ||
| New Zealand | Yugoslavia | ||
| Sweden | |||
| Later than opening | |||
| Denmark | |||
| Norway | |||
| France | |||
| UK |
3. Political area attitude toward talks and suggested agenda:
a. NEA is very favorably disposed toward holding bilateral talks and, although it has not yet furnished specific agenda items, feels that there are unquestionably numerous subjects that can be profitably discussed. NEA is equally interested in just permitting their clients to blow off directly to you.
[Depending on its status, this may prove an exceptional opportunity to further Arab interest in the establishment of MEDO.]
b. FE is particularly desirous that you discuss with the Indonesian Foreign Minister American technical, economic, and military aid; the Indonesian internal security situation; the American Oil Company contracts; and a US-Indonesian treaty of friendship and commerce.
Talks with other Far Eastern Foreign Ministers could be somewhat shorter and are less urgent.
c. ARA thus far is certain only that the Brazilian Foreign Minister will come to the General Assembly. You will doubtless want to reciprocate his hospitality and, depending on the outcome of talks now going on, you may be asked to discuss financial matters with him.
d. EUR assumes that you will wish to have discussions with Schuman and Schuman, but may wish to suggest talks also with the Norwegian and Danish Foreign Ministers.
4. Conclusions:
a. The Foreign Ministers from ARA, FE, and NEA with whom bilateral talks would have to be scheduled will number between 15 and 20. The talks will require between 20 and 25 hours, exclusive of luncheon or dinner talks, spread over about 6 weeks. This does not include time for discussions with Schuman, Eden, or any other European Foreign Ministers.
b. If the talks are kept within the above limits, they can be fitted into your UN schedule or conducted in Washington in between or after your visits to New York. UNA regards bilateral talks of these proportions practicable and desirable. However, all of the political areas but NEA in particular, will endeavor to have you see all of the heads of their client delegations, and therefore the formal bilateral talks must [Page 66] be confined to Foreign Ministers and persons of Madame Pandit’s status. The others will have to be handled either through regular UN appointments or in groups. The tentative time schedule does not take these group meetings into account.
c. Bilateral talks of the character envisioned provide an unusual opportunity to carry out the attack on the Arab-Asian problem which we have been discussing during the past week.
d. The agenda for the talks can best be suggested to the Foreign Ministers after their arrival in New York by our political area representatives to the UNGA. Pre-arranged fixed agenda would seem undesirable.
e. The political area representatives would also furnish you with the necessary briefing papers and arrange to have the appropriate Assistant Secretary or other qualified officer in attendance at the talks.
f. The following is an approximation of the schedule which could be set up:
| October 9 | Thailand (dinner) |
| October 20–22 | Indonesia (luncheon if possible) or Brazil (dinner or luncheon) India and Pakistan |
| October 23–25 | Brazil (dinner or luncheon) or Indonesia (luncheon if possible) |
| October 27–November 5 | (in Washington) |
| Turkey (probable) | |
| Egypt | |
| Any of remaining Foreign Ministers who happen to come to Washington | |
| November 5–December 1 | Iraq, Ethiopia, Liberia (½ hour), Israel, Nationalist China, Korea, Greece (probable) (Schuman and Schuman, if desirable) |