310.2/11–154: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Mission at the United Nations1
Gadel 81. Re: Membership. Comments contained in Gadel 78 also applicable revised Indian resolution (Delga 177).
We see no purpose whatever in suggestion contained new operative paragraph 3 for “periodic” SC meetings on membership problem and would plan to oppose it if it came to vote. Such meetings were intended to be held on very special occasions during which SC members would be represented by Foreign Ministers or other special representatives. UN membership question, on which no progress has been made in recent years, is not of such importance as to warrant “periodic” meetings, and we think only harm could come of holding one without any prospect of successful solution this problem. Moreover, “periodic” meeting more likely result in Chinese representation issue being raised in SC than regular meeting. Therefore urge you make strong effort dissuade Indians from pushing this idea, enlisting support of British and others who we feel sure should agree in view our common past reluctance to hold “periodic” SC meetings.
- Drafted by the Director of the Office of UN Political and Security Affairs (Popper), cleared by the geographic bureaus (except ARA), and signed by Topper.↩