UNP files, lot 58 D 742, “Cessation of Transmission of Information by the Netherlands—Section 1 (1952–1953)”
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of Dependent Area Affairs (Gerig)
- Subject:
- Postponement of the item on Cessation of the Transmission of Information on Surinam from the forthcoming General Assembly agenda
- Participants: Dr. de Beus, Minister, Netherlands Embassy
- Mr. Durward V. Sandifer, UNA
- Mr. Benjamin Gerig, UND
Following a conversation on this subject on September 8, Dr. de Beus came to the Department today to learn whether the United States could take some initiative in the forthcoming General Assembly in order to secure postponement of the subject item from the Assembly agenda because of the Netherlands’ fear that existing internal political conditions in Surinam would be worsened by a discussion of this point in the Assembly at this time. (An aide-mémoire on this subject was presented to the Department on September 8.)
Mr. Sandifer said that the Department had given consideration to this subject and while agreeing that it would probably be desirable to secure postponement of this item for the reasons given, the Department did not see clearly what initiative the United States could take which would secure the desired action by the Assembly. He pointed out that other so-called colonial questions will be on the agenda this year and any moves which the United States or other administering Members might take could have unfavorable repercussions. He believed, therefore, that the United States should not, in any case, take any initiative alone in securing postponement. He further raised the question of any convincing arguments which might be used.
Dr. de Beus said that the best argument would be that the round-table discussions on the future relations of Surinam to the other members of the Dutch Commonwealth were suspended and that since this argument was contained in the joint resolution of last year which the Assembly adopted, it could be used again. He pointed out, however, that the Dutch would not wish to use it since they did not agree that there was any necessary relation between their right to cease reporting on Surinam, in view of its new status, and the round-table discussions. His government agreed, however, that third parties could use this argument and thought that the best place to bring about a postponement of the item would be in the General Committee.
Mr. Sandifer thought that several of the Members who sponsored the joint resolution for postponing this item in the last Assembly, namely, Denmark, India, the Philippines and the United States, might take [Page 1244] the initiative but it was not clear how many of these would be in the General Committee. Another alternative would be to leave the item remain on the agenda and secure postponement of its consideration in the Fourth Committee by putting it down to the end of the list and perhaps not getting around to it by the time the Assembly is ready to adjourn. Dr. de Beus felt that as between the two alternatives, the best would be to get it postponed in the General Committee.
Mr. Sandifer said that we would make some further inquiries as to whether some of the sponsors of last year’s resolution would not think that since the round-table conferences were not completed, a further postponement was desirable. He repeated that the United States itself would not wish alone to take this action. Dr. de Beus agreed with this suggestion.
Dr. de Beus then said that since the Netherlands Ambassador would be seeing Secretary Acheson on Tuesday, he hoped that they could agree on the course of action to be taken, probably along the foregoing lines.1
- Dr. J. H. Van Roijen, the Netherlands Ambassador, had already spoken to Secretary of State Acheson on Sept. 10 on the occasion of calling on Acheson with Dr. J.M.A.H. Luns, Netherlands Minister Without Portfolio, who was visiting in the United States. Acheson summarized what he understood to be the Netherlands position “with respect to this specialized problem”, and asked the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Perkins), who was present, “to have the Department study the matter”. (Memorandum of conversation, drafted by R. D. McClelland of the Office of Western European Affairs, Sept. 10, 1952, UNP files, lot 58 D 742, “Cessation of Transformation of Information by the Netherlands Section 1 (1952–53”)) No record has been found of any subsequent Acheson–de Beus conversation on this matter.↩