Office of the Historian

310.2/9–1252: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Japan

secret
Washington, September 12, 1952—4:41 p.m.

695. Urtel 896 and Deptel 676.1 Res on Jap submitted Aug 28 reads “SC, having recd and considered application Jap for membership in [Page 858] UN (S/2673 of 23 Jun), decides that, in its judgment, Jap is peace-loving state and able and willing carry out obligations contained in charter, and accordingly, recommends to GA that it admit Jap to membership in UN.”

SC on Sep 8 defeated Sov omnibus proposal on membership by vote of 2 (USSR and Pakistan)–5–4 (Turkey, UK, Chile and France).2

Sep 10 SC mtg called (1) to reconsider pending applications and (2) to discuss new applications, including Jap. In discussing item (2) USSR insisted that new membership applications be referred to membership Comite prior to SC consideration and expressed doubt re independence. Malik described Jap as “Amer colony”. US Deleg vigorously opposed referral to Comite as delaying tactic.3

Next SC mtgs scheduled Sep 12 and 16. Will send resumé developments.

Acheson
  1. Telegram 896, Sept. 11, not printed (330/9–1152).↩

  2. The Soviet proposal would have admitted 14 applicants (5 Soviet candidates and Austria, Ceylon, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Nepal, Libya, and Portugal). The five votes contra were made by the United States, China, Brazil, Greece, and the Netherlands.

    The United States opposition was explained on the grounds: (1) that each applicant should be considered separately in accordance with Article 4 of the UN Charter; (2) that there were five applicants included in the resolution which this Government believed were not qualified; and (3) that the Soviet resolution omitted certain applicants as the Republic of Korea.

    ↩
  3. The Security Council on Sept. 10 proceeded over the objections of the Soviet Union with the decision to consider the new applications directly without reference to the Membership Committee.↩