Office of the Historian

295. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State1

New York, November 23, 1957—noon.

Delga 469. Eyes only for the Secretary. In thinking over your suggestion to me the other day regarding possible resolution on West [Page 512] New Guinea question, I have concluded that it is inadvisable for following reason: word “differences” is one which Dutch will not accept. They consider that any recognition of “differences” is equivalent to recognition that there is basis for Indonesian claims to territory.

Dutch are bending every effort to defeat 18-power res2 and, judging from reports from The Hague and informal comments of Australian Delegation here, they are determined to defeat any res on West New Guinea question. They do not think issue is one that admits of compromise.

Lodge
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 656.56D13/11–2357. Confidential; Priority.↩
  2. The draft resolution was submitted on November 19 by Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Ceylon, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen. It invited both parties to the West Irian dispute to find a solution and requested the Secretary-General to assist the parties. For text, see U.N. doc. A/C.1/L.193.↩