310.2/8–2554
Memorandum of Conversation, by Samuel DePalma of the Office of United Nations Political and Security Affairs
- Subject:
- Netherlands Position on Chinese Representation Issue in the UN.
- Participants:
- Mr. deBeus, Minister, Netherlands Embassy
- Mr. Key, IO
- Mr. Allen, EUR
- Mr. DePalma, UNP
Mr. Key explained that he had asked Mr. deBeus to call in order to ascertain the present position of the Netherlands with regard to the Chinese representation question, adding that he did not think it necessary to dwell on the supreme political importance of this issue in the United States.
Mr. deBeus replied that he had no reason to think the Netherlands position has changed in any respect. His Government would have favored the admission of Communist China before the aggression in Korea, but has opposed it since then. He pointed out that the Netherlands has not exchanged full representatives with the Communist [Page 764] regime and, according to his understanding, will not do so if the Netherlands is asked to support the admission of this regime to the UN in exchange for such an agreement. He assumed that the Netherlands’ position would remain unchanged so long as the Chinese Communists are branded as aggressors, but added that he would check with his Government.
Mr. Key then gave Mr. deBeus a copy of the formula for disposing of this issue in the General Assembly which we have suggested to the UK. In response to Mr. deBeus’ question, Mr. Key stated we had no reason to believe that the UK position on this issue has changed, although we do not know just how they would like to have the issue disposed of at this Session.
Mr. deBeus then asked whether the Department had reached any decision with respect to the Netherlands candidacy for ECOSOC and the question of Western New Guinea, adding that the Netherlands will oppose the inscription of the New Guinea item on the Assembly’s agenda, Mr. Key replied that these matters were under active study and that he would inform him of our decisions as soon as possible.