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

310.2/10–854: Telegram

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

confidential

Washington, October 21, 1954—3:48 p.m.

Gadel 57. Re: Membership—Japan.

1. In informing Japanese observer our decision drop non-member participation proposal at current session GADel should express sincere US appreciation Japanese attitude and indicate our disappointment over generally negative response other Members and applicants which led us to abandon this approach for time being. We hope, however, idea may ultimately bring results. Re possibility arrangement for Japan alone as suggested Delga 75 we have concluded, as apparently Japanese observer has also, it would be impractical and politically undesirable.

2. Latest Japanese suggestion (Delga 121)² to provide observers with additional privileges in GA involves many same difficulties as broader proposal for non-member participation and raises additional problems. Observers are, on strictly informal basis, accorded certain privileges by Secretary General on his own authority purely as matter of courtesy. Any move to grant them such rights as appearing and speaking in committees would require GA action establishing observer status which might encounter legal objections, and would also pose question what states eligible. In present circumstances we believe it undesirable for GA to formalize observer status in any way. We consider any grant of privileges in GA to non-members must be coupled with provisions limiting it to qualified applicants, which would be more difficult to justify in case of observers. Moreover, any formalization observer status would present special difficulties for US in view of fact Headquarters Agreement makes no provision for observers, on basis of which we have denied and will continue deny visas to representatives of Soviet satellites who wish to come to New York as observers.

3. We see no objection to Japan’s renewing present application, as others have done, and draft communication shown to Bonsai seems excellent.

Hoover

1. Drafted by Brown (UNP), cleared with officers in the Bureau of Ear Eastern Affairs, signed by the Director of the Office of UN Political and Security Affairs (Popper).
2. Not printed; it was USUN Information Digest No. 78, Oct. 19, 1954, 11:35 p.m. (310.5/10–1954).