Office of the Historian

320/9–1454

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of united Nations Political and Security Affairs (Bond)

confidential
[Washington,] September 14, 1954.
  • Subject:
  • Netherlands Position on Chinese Representation and other General Assembly Matters
  • Participants:
  • Ambassador J. H. Van Roijen—Netherlands Embassy
  • Baron van Voorst—Minister Counselor, Netherlands Embassy
  • Mr. Key—IO
  • Mr. Allen—EUR
  • Mr. Bond—UNP

Ambassador Van Roijen called today to introduce the newly-arrived Minister-Counselor of his Embassy, and to discuss certain questions regarding the forthcoming General Assembly.

With regard to the question of Chinese Representation, Ambassador Van Roijen said that the Embassy had received no reply to DeBeus’ telegram on that subject and that, in the absence of any indication to the contrary, he felt he could assure the Department that his Government would agree to “postponing” consideration of the question of seating the Chinese Communists during the forthcoming session for the remainder of the calendar year. Mr. Key then said that USUN had had further conversations with Sir Pierson Dixon in New York on this subject and that the British were now prepared to agree to a formula similar to that used last year, but substituting for the phrase “Decides to postpone consideration of” the phrase “Decides not to discuss”. He then asked whether the Netherlands Government would support a moratorium formula in those terms. Ambassador Van Roijen said that he would have to consult his Government on the suggested [Page 788] change of wording, which he seemed to feel might represent a slight departure from the position agreed upon at the recent conference of the Brussels Pact Powers. It was pointed out to Ambassador Van Roijen that this was not a substantive change and was not, therefore, one which should create any difficulties for the Netherlands Government. Ambassador Van Roijen said that we were obviously in substantial agreement on this question and that he would inform the Department of any further views which his Government might have on the suggested formula.

[Here follows discussion of other matters.]