UNP files, lot 59 D 237, “Membership”
Memorandum of Conversation, by an Adviser of the United States Delegation to the General Assembly (Meeker)
- Participants:
- Mr. Eric Stein—U.S. Delgation
- Mr. Leonard Meeker—U.S. Delegation
- Mr. Ushiroku, Assistant Japanese Observer
Mr. Ushiroku inquired whether we thought the Peruvian draft resolution was likely to be adopted and whether it could be expected to produce results. We gave our opinion that the Peruvian draft would be passed and that it seemed unlikely that the good offices committee to be established under it would be able to make significant progress. We asked Mr. Ushiroku whether the Japanese Government had yet reached a decision on the desirability of an arrangement by which Japan and some other applicants would have non-voting participation in the General Assembly. He said that no decision had been reached, and probably would not be until after the Foreign Minister’s return from his current trip in southeast Asia. Mr. Ushiroku thought this might be in about ten days. He said the Japanese Government would be influenced in its decision by various factors: (1) the attitude of other applicant states; (2) the likelihood of Assembly delegations agreeing to an arrangement for non-voting participation; and (3) the effect that such an arrangement might have on the admission of Japan to regular membership. We said we did not know what the attitude of other applicant states would be and, in response to a specific query, said we understood the Italian observer was checking the matter with his foreign office. As to the attitudes of other United Nations Members, we said that our consultations here in New York had not proceeded far enough to disclose any general sentiment. On the third point, it was very difficult to assess what the effect of non-voting participation might be on prospects for admission.
Mr. Ushiroku asked, if the Japanese Government should decide in favor of non-voting participation, whether this could be arranged at the current session of the General Assembly. We said this appeared unlikely. The item on admission of new members stands at the top of the Ad Hoc Political Committee’s agenda, and it would be very difficult, [Page 980] to secure the inclusion of a separate item on the agenda toward the end of the eighth session. We discussed briefly the possibility of not concluding finally the debate on the membership item when that item is considered at the head of the Ad Hoc Political Committee’s agenda, with a further debate, directed to the question of non-voting participation, after the committee had finished with its other items. We expressed doubt about this suggestion, pointing to the undesirable precedent it might set.
Mr. Ushiroku referred to the memorandum on detailed arrangements for non-voting participation which the Japanese had enclosed with a letter to Mr. Young (NA) on November 4, 1952. Mr. Ushiroku asked whether we would have strong objection to any of the points covered in that memorandum. We said we did not think so. We mentioned, however, that the whole question of arrangements for nonvoting participation was capable of many different formulae, and that this was a matter which would require considerable discussion and negotiation. For example, a question might arise as to contributions to the United Nations budget by non-voting participants. Mr. Ushiroku said he thought his Government had omitted this element from its memorandum deliberately. We also discussed the possibility of including in the arrangements for non-voting participation some reference to the non-members’ obligations to abide by the Charter. Mr. Ushiroku recalled in this connection the provisions of the Japanese Peace Treaty.
Mr. Ushiroku promised to let us know when his Government had any views to communicate.