772.00/4–452: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Mission at the United Nations1
371. Fol is SC statement on Tunisian case based on your suggested revision:
“I shld like to express fol views of my govt on this subject.
“It is only natural that the states which have proposed inclusion of this item on agenda, drawing heavily upon their own past experience, shld do everything they consider helpful in encouraging the progress of other areas towards self-govt.
“My govt has always considered that UN organs shld be available for examination of any problem which causes serious friction in internatl relations. For this reason we have supported inscription of charges, however groundless or malicious, when made against US. [Page 721] At same time, it is clear that under the Charter the parties to a controversy are obliged to seek a solution by negot. As SC consideration shld be designed to help the parties reach agreement, each member of SC, which acts on behalf of all members of UN, has a responsibility to ask himself whether consideration of a problem in the Council at a given moment will really help to bring the parties closer to the desired agreement.
“From the info available to my govt, it wld appear that the essential facts may be summed up as fols. There is a genuine and broadly-shared desire on the part of the inhabitants of Tunisia for a greater voice in the govt of that area. On the other hand, Fr authorities have recognized the validity of Tunisian demand for internal autonomy. They have proposed a plan for the people of Tunisia to progress toward that goal and it is hoped that negot between the Fr authorities and the Tunisians will soon begin.
“We do not wish to pass judgment upon the most recent developments in Tunisia. The US, however, cannot condone the use of forceful methods by either party. Force cannot possibly be an end in itself. Force and violence only serve to embitter the atmosphere and thus impair the chances of peaceful progress toward the common objective.
“It is the belief of my govt that at this moment it is more useful to concentrate on the problem of facilitating negots between the Fr and the Tunisians than to engage in debate at this table. The overriding objective of the SC must be to foster agreement through negot between the parties themselves. The Fr program of reforms, in our view, appear to constitute a basis for the resumption of negots looking toward the estab of home rule in Tunisia. We fervently hope that France faithful to its tradition, will bring about far-sighted and genuine reforms in Tunisia; history has taught us that in the long run the voices of those who really represent a people will be heard and will assert themselves.
“The Council will note that in stressing the desirability of negotiation, I am not dealing with the question of the Council’s competence to consider this matter. If this item is not included on our agenda at this time, the Council will, nevertheless, remain open to any member of the UN to bring the question to the Council’s attention again. My govt wld naturally reassess the situation if that is done.
“For these reasons, Mr. President, I have been instructed to abstain on the question of including this item on our agenda at this time.”
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This telegram was drafted by Stein and Wainhouse (UNP) and cleared with the offices of Allen (EUR), Bourgerie (NEA), and Sandifer (UNA). Hickerson signed for the Secretary. Circular telegram 837, Apr. 4, to 19 posts in North Africa, the Middle East, Far East, Europe, and Latin America informed them the Department of State had decided the U.S. Representative in the Security Council should abstain on the question of placing the Tunisian item on the agenda. Circular telegram 843, Apr. 7, read: “Fol is text of statement US Rep expects make in S.C. before vote on admission Tunisian item. You shld fol this gen line if matter raised by FonOff or local authorities.” It then repeated telegram 371 to 30 posts in Africa, the Middle East, Far East, South Asia, Latin America, and Europe.
Telegram 377 to USUN, Apr. 9, read as follows: “Re: Tunis. Dept believes in order clarify publicly reasons for known US position you shld seek make statement (Deptel 371) at SC mtg tomorrow. If you see serious tactical disadvantage pis advise.” Documentation is in Department of State file 772.00.
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