Office of the Historian

320/10–453: Telegram

The United States Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) to the Department of State

secret
New York, October 4, 1953—10 p.m.

Delga 63. Reference SC Elections. Ambassador Malik of the USSR came in to see me this afternoon at his request. He stated that the Security Council elections are on the agenda of tomorrow’s GA plenary and that this is a good time to restore the “gentlemen’s agreement” which was negotiated in London in 1946 regarding the distribution of the six non-permanent seats in the SC. He went on to say that two of the seats, it was then agreed, were to go to Latin America, one to Western Europe, one to the British Commonwealth, one to Eastern Europe and one to the Middle East. To restore this “gentlemen’s agreement”, Mr. Malik went on to say, would be just and in accordance with the geographical requirement referred to in the Charter.

I replied that the “gentlemen’s agreement” negotiated in 1946 was in our view an agreement for that year and was not intended to last indefinitely. Wainhouse stated that it was Stevenson who negotiated this agreement with Gromyko and that Mr. Stevenson1 has since confirmed our interpretation with respect to the length of time it was to last.2

I stated to Mr. Malik that I was pleased that he came in to talk to me about this; that I would report this conversation at once to the State Department; and that it is our intention to vote for Turkey for that seat.

Mr. Malik expressed regret at having to break up my Sunday holiday. I replied that I am always glad to see him, and at any time.

Mr. Malik appeared in dark glasses as he entered the building, took them off in the elevator, and put them on again when he left the building.

As Wainhouse escorted Malik out of the building, the latter inquired about former Ambassador Jessup. 2 Park Avenue, Mr. Malik stated, is where he and Ambassador Jessup negotiated the Berlin (blockade) agreement.

Lodge
  1. Adlai E. Stevenson, in 1946 an adviser to the U.S. Delegation to the first part of the First Session of the General Assembly at London.↩
  2. For documentation on this question, see Foreign Relations, 1949, vol. ii, p. 265.↩