Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, United Nations and General International Matters, Volume XI

69. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Wilcox) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, May 10, 1957.

SUBJECT

• U.S. Position on Calling of a Charter Review Conference

Discussion

The committee of the whole established by the GA at its 10th session to report to the 12th session “on the question of fixing a time and place” for a Charter review conference and on the organization and procedures of such a conference is scheduled to meet on June 3. The 10th GA specifically recognized in its resolution that a review “should be conducted under auspicious international circumstances”, and decided to hold a conference for this purpose “at an appropriate time.” It was the consensus at the 10th GA that auspicious circumstances did not then exist. It was clearly understood that while the Assembly had taken a decision in principle to hold a conference, its committee of the whole was free to recommend further postponement of the decision on time and place if, in its view, international circumstances were still not auspicious when the time came for the committee to report.

The present political climate does not appear any more conducive to positive accomplishment at a review conference than that prevailing in 1955–56. One of our principal concerns in supporting the holding of a conference, the membership deadlock, has been met. Another principal concern, enlargement of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council to permit more equitable geographic representation, is already on the agenda of the 12th GA. There appears no greater likelihood than in the past that the USSR will agree to any restriction of the veto power, and the raising of colonial and other questions likely to prove divisive for the free world appears certain. Moreover, the Chinese representation issue is certain to give rise to extensive debate at any review conference in connection with the conference’s consideration of the over-all composition of the Security Council, which even if the number of non-permanent SC seats has been increased, appears inescapable.

On balance, it appears that the dangers in a review conference at this time outweigh possible advantages. However, if the consensus among other members is clearly in favor of a conference in the near future, it would be difficult, both from the standpoint of principle and in view of our past position on this matter, for the US to fail to support such a move.

Recommendation

That to ascertain their views you authorize the initiation of consultations with other friendly UN members, in which we would make clear that we do not intend to press for a recommendation by the GA committee of the whole setting a specific date for the holding of a conference. If you do not agree with this approach, may we meet with you to discuss this question.

1. Source: Department of State,IO Files: Lot 60 D 113, Charter Review. Confidential. Drafted by Virginia Hartley.