Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Africa, Volume XVIII

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

Washington, December 9, 1957.

SUBJECT

• Alphand’s Call on You to Discuss Strategy on Algerian Item

Discussion

Ambassador Alphand is calling on you, pursuant to M. Pineau’s instructions, to discuss strategy on the Algerian item when the General Assembly plenary meets Tuesday morning.²

On Friday the Norwegian-Canadian amendments (acceptable to the French) to the 17-power Arab-Asian resolution passed in Committee by one vote, 37–36–7. (attached)³ However, Liberia shifted from an abstention to a negative vote when the 17-power resolution, as amended, was voted upon, and it was therefore rejected 37–37–6. The Soviet and Arab-Asian blocs voted solidly against the resolution (only Turkey and the Philippines abstained and Laos voted in favor). The Latin Americans, with the exception of Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico, and Bolivia, supported the resolution, as did the Europeans including non-NATO countries such as Finland, Austria, and Sweden. The seven-power LA-Italian resolution, reflecting more closely the French position, was not pressed to a vote by the cosponsors.⁴

On Saturday morning, Alphand called on me to express his satisfaction with the outcome of the voting in the Political Committee.⁵ He reiterated the French preference that General Assembly action be concluded without adoption of any resolution. At the same time, he acknowledged that this might not be possible since we can expect the reintroduction of proposals and amendments in plenary. (Iran has indicated it may reintroduce the 17-power resolution as amended.) Alphand agreed that if amendments to the 17-power resolution are not moderate it may be possible to end General Assembly action without a resolution; on the other hand, he feared that the amendments would be of a moderate character in which case there was danger of dissipating some of the support of the French position, principally among the Latin Americans.

In response to Alphand’s request that the United States assist France in bringing about the completion of General Assembly consideration without the adoption of a resolution, I made several points to him. First, we appreciated the flexibility shown by the French in accepting the Canadian-Norwegian amendments. Alphand agreed that this improved the French position in the Assembly and that it was the correct decision. Secondly, the United States would be pleased if no resolution is adopted. However, in view of the probability that proposals and moderate amendments may be introduced in plenary, it may not be possible to achieve this objective. Thirdly, the United States position on any amendments or new proposals cannot be determined until such proposals and amendments are in fact submitted. We cannot at this point say whether we would oppose all amendments, whatever their character, particularly since the Arab-Asian strategy may be to submit amendments of a moderate character which might be generally acceptable to France. In these circumstances, we should try to maintain a flexible attitude. Fourth, Pineau can be assured that Ambassador Lodge will concert closely with him as he has this past week in helping to bring about a result acceptable to France.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/12–957. Confidential.
2. December 10.
3. Not printed. The amendments were submitted by Canada, Norway, and Ireland on December 6. (U.N. doc. A/C.1/L.196)
4. The resolution was submitted on December 5. (U.N. doc. A/C.1/L.195)
5. A memorandum of the December 7 conversation by John P. Shaw (UNP) is in Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/12–757.