772.00/4–1052: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Department of State
niact
691. Re Tunisia—confirming USUN telecon with Wainhouse (UNP).1
- 1.
Bokhari (Pak), SC Pres for Apr, has raised with USUN question concerning our attitude in event some or all Arab-African group request to be heard by SC for purpose responding to statements made by Fr rep at SC mtg Apr 4. Latter, according to sponsoring dels, charged them with giving currency to “inexact and tendentious” statements and to “disseminating propaganda and historical untruths.” Sponsoring dels in identical letters to Pres of SC have recorded “emphatic rejection of all these charges and imputations.”
Deptel 370, Apr 4,2 instructs USUN to “oppose seating” of entire Arab-African group of complainants at SC table on grounds that [Page 727] their interests cannot be considered as specially affected as required by Art 31 of charter.
Two questions arise as to which USUN requires specific instructions:
- a.
Does “oppose” in Deptel 370 mean vote against or abstain?
If former, does “oppose” mean speak against as well as vote against?
Moreover, does “oppose” mean that in informal discussions initiated by other SC dels prior to SC mtg, is USUN instructed to inform other dels that we oppose seating?
- b.
- Is USUN instructed to vote against seating reps if basis their request is to answer “charges and imputations” made by Fr rep at SC mtg Apr 4?
- 2.
- Bokhari, as well as
Santa Cruz (Chile),
Tsiang (China) and
Sarper (Turk) have expressed hope that in
view US decision to abstain, question of inscription will not
come to vote at SC mtg today, Apr
10. USUN requires instructions
concerning following questions:
- a.
- In informal discussions with other dels who raise this question on their own initiative, is USUN instructed to take “neutral attitude” and to advise such dels that we will “let nature take its course”?
- b.
- In probable event Fr, possibly supported by UK, should press for vote at SC mtg, is USUN instructed to support France? Question is likely to arise by SC Pres asking for sense of Council rather than by preliminary vote. In such event is USUN instructed to keep silent and if not, what position should USUN take? If Fr rep formally moves that SC vote on question today, how is USUN to vote on such a motion? In the event that a motion for adjournment is made prior to vote, how should we vote on adjournment?