Office of the Historian

320/11–2253: Telegram

The United States Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) to the Department of State

secret
priority
New York, November 22, 1953—7 p.m.

Delga 308. Eyes only for the Secretary. Re Puerto Rican item. Following is suggested draft of statement to be made by Lodge when the Puerto Rican item is up in the General Assembly, which will probably be on Friday:

“I am authorized to say on behalf of the President of the United States that if at any time the legislature of Puerto Rico adopts a resolution in favor of complete independence, he would be glad to see them get it and would welcome the submission of their candidacy as a member nation of the Rio Pact.”1

Lodge
  1. No record has been found in the files of the Department of State of an Eisenhower–Lodge consultation on this matter.↩