Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Africa and South Asia, Volume XI, Part 1

772.00/12–1052: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in Brazil¹

confidential
priority

Washington, December 10, 1952—6:02 p.m.

640. Pls avail yourself earliest opportunity convey to FonOff expression US appreciation for Brazilian action in introducing their res on Tunisia in Comite I UNGA. Also express our pleasure and satisfaction at Brazilian Del’s firmness in opposing amendments thereto.

FYI USUN had detected at one time signs among Brazilian Del of willingness to consider amendments for sake of obtaining substantial majority for its res.² This wld have created serious difficulty as present text is already max which US can support without serious repercussions on US-Fr relations. As it is Fr will resent any UN res of any kind on Tunisia which they insist is internal affair. When Jessup expressed US support for Brazilian res in Comite I on Oct 8³ he supported a specific text and we wld be obliged to oppose any substantive amendments intended placate Arab-Asian group. Any split between moderate elements in UN cld well ensure either adoption or at least larger vote for more extreme Arab-Asian text. While attitude of Brazilian Del has firmed up noticeably in last 48 hrs we think that above démarche rptd to Brazilian Del NY shld serve to strengthen Muniz’s hand shld there be new pressure within his Del favoring acceptance amendments. Furthermore not impossible that Fr Govt might make strong démarche in Rio in critical vein and in this case our complimentary action shld serve mitigate it and help retain Brazilian Del’s coop which has been very useful so far.

For Paris Emb:

You may wish to approach FonOff to forestall critical Fr démarche in Rio which we think wld have harmful effects in NY.⁴

Acheson

1. This telegram was drafted and signed by Knight and was cleared with the offices of Popper (UNA), Cottrell (ARA), and Cyr (AF). It was repeated priority to Paris and to USUN.

2. Representatives of the Brazilian, French, and U.S. Delegations met on Dec. 9, the day following the introduction of the Brazilian resolution on Tunisia and Ambassador Jessup’s speech. A member of the French Delegation had been dismayed by the news of an approach to the Brazilian Delegation by a representative from Pakistan. The Pakistani Representative suggested the Arab-Asian delegations would support Brazil’s resolution if it were strengthened. The Brazilian Representative had made no commitments, but the French were upset that he had not immediately rejected the offer.

   Members of delegations friendly to the French suggested that the Arab-Asian delegations might vote for the Brazilian resolution if it were amended. After discussion with both the Americans and the French, the Brazilians agreed to reject any amendments to their resolution and to try to gain support of other Latin American delegations for that position. A Brazilian Delegate expressed the opinion, however, that it would not be possible to prevent the Arab-Asians from waiving priority on their resolution in favor of the Brazilian one. The problem with that solution would be the adverse French reaction to any resolution, even the one sponsored by the Latin Americans, if the Arab-Asian group also voted for it. (Memorandum of conversation, Dec. 9, 1952; USUN files, “7th GA Memoranda of conversation, 11/21–12/31/52”)

3. Ambassador Jessup’s speech is not printed, but see the editorial note, p. 848.
4. On Dec. 12, the Political Committee rejected the Arab-Asian draft resolution on Tunisia by a vote of 27 to 24. with 7 abstentions. The Committee subsequently approved the Latin American draft resolution, and, on Dec. 17, that resolution was enacted by the General Assembly as resolution 611 (VII) by a vote of 44 (U.S.) to 3, with 8 abstentions. The Arab-Asian states voted for final passage of the resolution.