330/3–854
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Special Assistant for United Nations Affairs, Bureau of European Affairs (Allen)
- Subject:
- Elections to UN Security Council
Miss Salt called on instructions to advise us that recently the Belgian Government approached the UK to indicate their desire to be elected to Denmark’s seat on the SC. They stated that the Swedish Government is also interested but has yet made no decision and asked the UK to seek to dissuade the Swedes from seeking the post. The UK replied that they could not do so, but in response to a further request from the Belgians have agreed to point out to the Swedish Government the desirability of an early decision by Sweden as to whether it desired to run. The UK position is that this is a matter primarily for Sweden and Belgium to resolve and that the UK will support whichever one decides to run. The Foreign Office pointed out, however, that Sweden has never been on the SC and in Miss Salt’s view the Foreign Office was inclined to be more sympathetic to Sweden’s candidacy.
In response to Miss Salt’s question I stated so far as I was aware we had not yet been approached by the Belgians and this was the first we had heard of their interest. I recalled it has been the normal practice for the Scandinavians and Benelux countries to alternate in holding this Council post and that Sweden’s candidacy would alter this practice. I added the personal view that we would probably be more sympathetic to Belgium’s candidacy because of the problem of Chinese representation in the SC. However, I felt certain that we would be similarly reluctant to become involved in the conflicting desires of the Swedes and Belgians and would hope that the two of them could work it out.