310.2/9–2754: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) to the Department of State
Delga 28. Re membership. Krishna Menon (India) made the following proposal to me today:
That the GA adopt a resolution stating that it would elect to membership nations which had received seven votes in the SC;
That the SC promptly meet and vote on applications in accordance with this new procedure which would, of course, eliminate the veto;
That thereafter an understanding be reached between the US and the Soviet Union. For illustrative purposes only, this could be an understanding that Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Finland would be admitted, that then Hungary would be admitted and that then another group of states which the US approves of would be admitted, after which one state in the Soviet Group would be admitted;
That “states like Japan and North and South Korea would not be considered at this time”.
He asked me to consider this scheme carefully and talk to him about it.
[Page 1026]My impression is that he deliberately sought me out in order to put this to me and that although he was careful to say that it was simply a personal idea of his, it is actually a good deal more than that.
Request instructions.