Hickerson–Murphy–Key files, lot 58 D 33, “8th Session UN General Assembly”
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Murphy)
- Subject:
- Technique of Dealing with Communist China in the United Nations
- Participants:
- The Secretary
- British Ambassador Sir Roger Makins
- Mr. Robert Murphy, Assistant Secretary for United Nations Affairs
The Secretary said that he had carefully considered the language of the proposal suggested by the UK as reported to him by the Ambassador on September 3. It would not be possible for us to go along with this exact language, but he thought that perhaps the problem could be solved by the following language, of which he provided Ambassador Makins with a copy:
“That the General Assembly postpone for the duration of its Eighth Regular Session consideration of all proposals to exclude the Representatives of the Government of the Republic of China and to seat representatives of the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China.”
In addition to the language of the proposal, there would be an understanding that we would work for adjournment of the Eighth Assembly session in December 1953. The Secretary was given to understand, he said, that under present rules a firm date for adjournment sine die could be agreed by the Assembly. The Secretary explained also that for reasons of a purely domestic nature the United States was eager to have a definite adjournment of the Eighth Assembly session in December. For example, some of the delegates accepted their appointments on that basis and would not be available for later service, as in the case of Governor Byrnes and the two members of Congress.
Ambassador Makins explained that the language in the present British proposal is designed to retain a certain flexibility. He referred to the discussion in the House of Commons as illustrating the desire of his government to avoid freezing the position for a period as long as the session of the Seventh General Assembly, which lasted over eleven months. He thought that the Secretary’s present suggestion might possibly meet the British point of view, and he would recommend it to his government.
The Secretary pointed out that should there be need for a further meeting of the Assembly in 1954 prior to the Ninth Session, this could be handled by a special session, for which there is precedent.