320/8–2153
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for united Nations Affairs (Sandifer)
- Subject:
- Dutch Interest in European Presidency of the 9th General Assembly
- Participants:
- Dr. J. G. de Beus, Minister, Netherlands Embassy
- UNA—Mr. Sandifer
Mr. de Beus called with further reference to his conversation with Mr. Murphy on August 14 concerning the presidency of the 8th General Assembly. He said that after his conversation with us and also with the French and British and one or two others, his Government had decided not to put forward Mr. Van Kleffens’ candidacy for the 8th General Assembly. Mr. de Beus said that his Government had instructed him, however, to indicate the strong interest of the Netherlands Government in European presidency of the 9th General Assembly. They hoped that the United States would be able to agree not to make any commitment with reference to the 9th General Assembly until they had had an opportunity to consider any possible European candidacy. His Government would not, of course, be able to say at the present time that Mr. Van Kleffens would be available as a candidate but they did feel very strongly that it was time for the presidency to be held by a European state.
I told Mr. De Beus that while, of course, I could not give any official commitment, I was sure that the Department would look sympathetically on this request and that if it were repeated at a timely moment after the adjournment of the 8th General Assembly it should receive favorable consideration in the Department.