310.2/8–2654
Memorandum of Conversation, by Elizabeth Brown of the Office of United Nations Political and Security Affairs
- Subject:
- Admission of Austria to the UN; UNCURK; Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission; Cyprus
- Participants:
- Miss Barbara Salt, UK Embassy
- Mr. Allen, EUR
- Miss Brown, UNP
1. Admission of Austria to the UN
Miss Salt referred to a memorandum given to the Embassy in London on June 28 setting forth the basis for the British views that Austria was not legally qualified for admission to the UN. Mr. Allen said so far as he had been able to discover the Embassy had not transmitted this document to the Department. Miss Salt stated that the Foreign Office did not consider that Austria met the legal requirements for admission and had requested her to seek an explanation of the basis for the opposite views of the United States since it would like to be persuaded Austria’s admission was possible.
She read us from the Legal Adviser’s memorandum and promised to provide us with a copy later. We agreed to obtain the comments of our Legal Adviser on it. The memorandum made two principal arguments: (1) because of the restrictions placed on Austria by the Control Agreement and the presence of the Occupying Powers it was not fully sovereign and could not fulfill the Charter obligations of a UN Member, e.g. Article 2(5); (2) to press for Austria’s admission would undermine the UK position on other applicants such as Outer Mongolia, whose sovereignty on paper was less dubious. The memorandum also advanced the possibility of an early Assembly vote expressing the view that Austria should eventually be admitted to the UN, but at the same time it raised the question whether such action would be politically wise.
Mr. Allen recalled that the Assembly had previously found Austria fully qualified for admission as illustrated by Resolution 296 (IV) and moreover, the USSR had included Austria in its package proposal. We told Miss Salt that we were quite certain that the UK had supported this Assembly resolution and promised to confirm this point by telephone. Mr. Allen commented that even if it should turn out that our Legal Advisers shared the UK’s doubts, in light of these facts, it would be politically undesirable to voice them.
Miss Salt mentioned the idea of associate membership and recalled that the UK had never been as keen on such an arrangement as the United States, both because of serious doubts as to its legality and the [Page 1013] view that it would require Charter amendment. We indicated that the United States continued to favor associate membership arrangements, which we felt did not require Charter amendment, but that some applicants, particularly Italy, were not interested, apparently because they feared the result might be to ease up on pressure for full membership. Japan, however, had indicated some interest.
Miss Salt noted current rumors of a possible deal to admit Finland and Austria. We added that Libya had also been suggested in the same context. Mr. Allen observed that the rumors might stem from the Secretary General’s suggestion, in his annual report, that several states not directly from either conflicting camp might be admitted.
[Here follows discussion of the other matters indicated in subject-heading.]