320/8–1053: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Turkey1
162. UNGA this fall will elect for two year terms three non-permanent members to SC to succeed Chile, Greece and Pakistan. US will support Latin American state to succeed Chile and New Zealand to succeed Pakistan.
Greek seat presents special problem. Soviet satellites were elected this seat until 1949 but GA in 1949 chose Yugoslavia and in 1951 Greece rather than Soviet candidates. However USSR can be expected claim Soviet satellite still entitled this seat and thus will undoubtedly run satellite this year. (USSR has based claim on informal understanding reached in London in 1945 under which British Comonwealth, Western Europe, Near East and Africa, and Eastern Europe were each allocated one seat and Latin Americans two seats. However in US view this understanding represented commitment for first election only.) There are no announced non-Soviet candidates succeed Greece and we anticipate many countries will support Soviet satellite.
US will in no event support Soviet satellite or any country which can be expected favor seating Chinese Commies. Among possible candidates acceptable to us believe Turkey would have best chance defeat Soviet satellite, particularly since it borders on Eastern Europe and might thus secure greater support than country remote from area from [Page 491] Members who do not wish upset geographic pattern generally followed SC elections.
USUN informed Sarper US prepared support Turkey if it should become candidate. Suggest you also approach Foreign Office soonest, stressing importance election of suitable non-Soviet candidate and expressing hope Turkey will run. In your discussions you should point out election of Soviet satellite would enable USSR further obstruct work of SC and give it additional vote in favor seating Chinese Commies. Also would be politically undesirable return Soviet satellite to SC after GA has in past two elections rejected Soviet candidate. You should of course assure Foreign Office US would give Turkey firm support if it decides run. FYI however we hope Turkey can be encouraged take lead in developing own candidacy. While we would give it firm support we wish avoid staking US prestige on UN elections. End FYI.
If FonOff raises question Turkish participation Korean Political Conference you should reply this is matter we are considering entirely independently and we hope discuss with Turkish delegation New York shortly following Secretary’s return from Korea.
- Drafted by Jones and concurred in by the Officer in Charge, General Assembly Affairs (Taylor) and the Deputy Director of the Office of UN Political and Security Affairs (Popper); cleared with the geographic bureaus; and signed by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for UN Affairs (Sandifer). Repeated to USUN for information as telegram 40.↩