320/1–2854: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Allen) to the Department of State
1192. Repeated London 205, Berlin. Department telegram 864, January 20,1 and Embassy telegram 1182, January 26.2
During long talk with Mrs. Pandit last night, I gave her several openings to discuss special General Assembly session, but she obviously was not anxious to discuss it.
However, I gained impression she is more or less reconciled to idea that her call for special session may not obtain majority approval.
Both Canadian and Australian HICOMs have informed Pillai, their governments are dubious regarding value of General Assembly session at this time, but neither has given final reply. Canadian HICOM thinks idea planted with Pillai (Embassy telegram 1182) that session might result in quarrel between Krishna Menon and Vishinsky, may have taken root. While Nehru will not withdraw Indian proposal for session and feels we are committed to it, Government of India may regard defeat with mixed emotions.3
- Printed as telegram 336 to USUN, p. 1728.↩
- In this telegram Allen reported on a conversation with Pillai in which the U.S. Ambassador suggested, inter alia, that a special session might cause India embarassment as Vishinsky was likely to take Menon to task for releasing the POWs. (320/1–2654)↩
- As reported in telegram 392 from New York, Jan. 29, not printed (320/1–2954), only 22 member nations replied affirmatively to the request for reconvening the General Assembly on Feb. 9, and thus the session was not reconvened. (Yearbook of the United Nations, 1954, p. 30)↩