L/UNA files, “Privileges & Immunities, General, 1944–1954”
Memorandum by Marcia Fleming of the Office of the Assistant Legal Adviser for United Nations Affairs to the Director of the Office of International Administration and Conferences ( Ingram )
- Subject:
- Use of Franking Privilege by Latin American Delegations to the United Nations
In accordance with your request, we have considered the question raised by Mr. Monsma (ARA) whether or not the Latin American delegations to the UN are entitled to the franking privilege under the Postal Convention of the Americas and Spain.
Our files show that this question was carefully considered last year. On July 10, 1951, L/UNA concurred, as did L/A and the Post Office Department, in a memorandum which Mr. Kerry (UNI) addressed to Mr. Hickerson, wherein it was concluded, that the Latin American delegations to the United Nations were not entitled to the franking privilege under this Convention. It was generally agreed that the grant of the franking privilege for the “correspondence of members of the diplomatic corps of the signatory countries” of this Convention did not extend to members of delegations to the UN. We see no reason to change our position with respect to this question.
From a policy standpoint, moreover, we can well appreciate UNA’s position that all delegations to the UN must be treated alike. To accord the franking privilege to a third of the delegations would [Page 223] place this government as host in a most untenable position with the other delegations. This is particularly true because we most probably could not obtain the franking privilege for these other delegations.