320/12–152: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Mission at the United Nations
priority
Delga 305. Re Membership. USDel staff members talked today with UK, French and Canadian dels concerning idea of inter-session study of membership problem. British and French indicated initial favorable reaction, said they wld need instructions before making any commitment. Canadian del obviously not enthusiastic, but apparently likely to go along. Opinions expressed by UK and France favored comite of perhaps as many as fifteen UN members. They also expressed view that Comite’s terms of reference shld be very broadly stated, without specifying particular aspects of membership problem to which comite shld address itself. UK expressed view that idea of inter-session study wld constitute only a device for postponement and wld not contribute in any way to solution of membership problem.
USDel staff here in New York has prepared revised text of possible draft res on subject, which is given at end this message. Revised text of res is being given to British, French and Canadians as very tentative indication of what US has in mind in suggesting inter-session study on membership. It has been made clear to these other dels that US wld not sponsor res, but wld wish some other delegation or dels to sponsor if this course of action were to be followed through.
In revising text of draft res, we have sought wherever possible to adopt Dept’s suggestions. In Gadel 76, Dept suggested combining paras 1 and 2 of first draft of res. After trying such combination we concluded it would be very cumbersome, and as a result have included this material in revised text as paras 2, 3 and 4. Para 4 includes reference to Japan and three Indochinese states by name. Paras on reference to Article 4 of Charter and on universality concept have been merged in para 1 of revised text in the form of restatement of first para of preamble in Assembly Res 506A (VI). We do not understand reasons underlying Dept suggestion that para 6 be omitted. Material in this para has been included in order to increase saleability of study idea to other dels, particularly LA dels. Would appreciate knowing if there are overriding considerations for omission this para. If so, will omit it in next draft. Separate message will follow on suggestions as to composition of special comite.
Revised text of resolution follows:
Verbatim text
The General Assembly
- 1.
- Considering that the Charter of the United Nations provides that membership is open to all states not original members of the organization [Page 879] and that this universality is subject only to the conditions that they be peace-loving and accept the obligations contained in the charter and, in the judgment of the organization are able and willing to carry out these obligations,
- 2.
- Recalling that the Assembly has expressed to the Security Council the Assembly’s support of the applications for membership of ten states (Austria, Ceylon, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Libya, Nepal, Portugal, Republic of Korea),
- 3.
- Recalling that the Assembly in Res 267 (III) has recommended to the permanent members of the Security Council that they seek agreement among themselves on possible decisions by the SC, giving favorable consideration to votes on membership applications, upon which they might forbear to exercise their veto when seven affirmative votes have already been cast in the Council,
- 4.
- Recalling that the Security Council has not recommended favorably the applications of fourteen states (Austria, Cambodia, Ceylon, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Laos, Libya, Nepal, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Vietnam) in spite of the fact that their applications have all received seven or more affirmative votes, and in spite of the favorable opinion expressed by a majority of the General Assembly on ten of these states,
- 5.
- Recalling that the International Court of Justice, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has twice, at the request of the General Assembly, rendered advisory opinions of the question of membership,
- 6.
- Noting the suggestions which have been made by members of the General Assembly, in draft resolutions and in debate, for differing approaches intended to arrive at the admission to membership in the United Nations of those states which are applicants and which are supported by a substantial majority of the Assembly and the Security Council,
- 7.
- Establishes a special comite for United Nations membership composed of the reps of [about twelve member states including the permanent members of the Security Council]1;
- 8.
- Requests the special comite on United Nations membership to consider and study the question of the admission of states to membership in the United Nations in the light of the debates in the General Assembly, taking due account of the advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice and taking into consideration all proposals which have been made in the General Assembly or which may be submitted by members of the United Nations to the special committee;
- 9.
- Requests the special comite to report its conclusions to the eighth regular session of the General Assembly and to submit its report to the [Page 880] Secretary-General for distribution to the members of the United Nations two months before the commencement of the eighth regular session; and
- 10.
- Requests the Secretary General to furnish to the special comite the staff and facilities required for the performance of its duties.
End Verbatim Text
- Brackets are in the source text.↩