Office of the Historian

310.2/3–953

The Acting Secretary of State to the Mission at the United Nations1

confidential
[Washington,] March 9, 1953—6:49 p.m.

339. Re Membership Committee:

1.
Following are Department’s comments on Membership Committee officers for your general guidance in working out slate:
a.
Since Latin Americans sponsored establishment Committee they will probably want Latin American chairman. This would be satisfactory to us and we would be willing leave choice to them.
b.
Important Committee have good Rapporteur. We suggest Von Balluseck, Netherlands, or British Commonwealth representative, preferably Johnson, Canada.
c.
If Latin American elected Chairman and Western European Rapporteur, Vice-Chairman should be from Near or Far East. Lopez, Philippines, or possibly Lebanon representative suggested.
2.
Even if Membership Committee holds early organizational meeting we hope and expect it would not begin substantive work until May.

Smith
  1. Drafted by Jones and concurred in by Popper of UNP, cleared in draft with the geographic bureaus and L/UNA, and signed by Assistant Secretary Hickerson.↩