Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, United Nations Affairs, Volume III

310.2/9–1253: Telegram

The Deputy United States Representative at the United Nations (Wadsworth) to the Department of State

confidential

New York, September 12, 1953—8:47 p.m.

183. Verbatim text. Re membership and Department’s 119, September 11.¹ Consultation today with UK delegation revealed clearly that they are not thinking of emphasizing subject of membership in studies contemplated by Dutch item on charter revision. Words “particular attention” cropped up only in informal conversation and unfortunately conveyed erroneous impression. Their tentative idea (as embodied in first recommendation of following draft resolution on which they would like to have our comments) is that member governments should study possible revisions of admission procedures for consideration in connection with other proposals for charter revision.

“The GA,

“Recalling its Resolutions 113A(II) of 17 November, 1947, 197B (III) of 8 December, 1948, 296K(IV) of 22 November, 1949, 495(V) of 4 December, 1950, 506A(VI) of 1 February, 1952, and 620(VII) of 21 December, 1952,

“Recalling in particular the opening paragraph of Resolution 506 (VI), which reads:

‘Considering that the Charter of the UN provides that membership is open to all states not original members of the organization 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’,

“Considering that certain applicant states have failed to secure admission, notwithstanding the fact that the great majority, and in some cases, all members of the organization have believed them to fulfill the provisions of Article IV (1) of the Charter,

“Considering that the GA, being aware of the importance of this problem, has striven for some years to find a solution and at its 7th session instructed a special committee to make a detailed study of the question of the admission of states to membership to the UN and requested it to submit a report on its work and its conclusions to the GA at its 8th session,

“Having examined the report of the special committee,

“Concludes:

(1) that procedural methods designed to overcome the difficulties which at present prevent the admission of new members are not likely to find general acceptance, and

(2) that while there is no agreement amongst the five permanent members of the Security Council on the admission of particular applicants no solution of a political nature is practicable,

“Recommends:

(1) that member governments should study possible revisions of the procedure for admitting new members and submit these for consideration of other member governments, so that they may be considered in connection with other proposals for the revision of the Charter, and

(2) that the five permanent members of the SC confer with one another with a view to assisting the council to come to positive recommendations in regard to pending applications for membership, whenever circumstances appear to be propitious and in any case before the 9th session of the GA.”

With respect this draft, Crosthwaite emphasized that it represented UK Delegation’s ideas based on general instructions and had not been cleared by British Foreign Office.

Wadsworth

1. Not printed (310.2/9–1153).