310.2/8–654
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Wainhouse)1
- Subject:
- Colombian Position re Red China, Presidency of GA, and Seat on International Court of Justice.
- Participants:
- Ambassador Zuleta Angel, Colombian Ambassador to the U.S.
- José Maria Chaves, Counselor, Embassy of Colombia
- David W. Wainhouse (UNA)
- Byron E. Blankinship (OSA)
The Ambassador stated that Colombia was strongly opposed to the admission of Communist China to the United Nations. He stated that his Government was requesting the support of other Latin American countries for this position on the ground that Colombia would resent the admission of Communist China, against whom Colombian forces were recently engaged.
The Ambassador stated that although Van Kleffens had considerable support in Latin America, Colombia would support Prince Wan for the Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly. The Ambassador said that this was a difficult choice to make but that Colombia proposed by way of compromise to support the candidacy of Van Kleffens for the Presidency of the next General Assembly.
The Colombian Ambassador stated that Colombia will support Sir Zafrulla Khan for the unexpired portion of the International Court of Justice seat left vacant by the death of Sir Benegal Rau. The Ambassador stated that Colombia wished to preserve four seats on the Court for Latin American countries. Mr. Wainhouse thanked the Ambassador for Colombia’s support on the Communist China question. He said that he was interested in knowing that Colombia would support Prince Wan, but that the U.S. was unable to commit itself for any candidate as far ahead as a year or more such as Colombia proposed to do in the case of Van Kleffens.
- Drafted by Byron E. Blankinship, Officer in Charge, North Coast Affairs, Office of South American Affairs. Wainhouse added a handwritten notation: “I also said that we would vote for Sir Zafrulla for the unexpired term left vacant by Sir Benegal’s death.”↩