273. Editorial Note
On December 12, during discussion at the Secretary’s Staff meeting, the subject of the Cyprus issue at the United Nations was raised. According to the notes of the meeting:
“Mr. Walmsley reported that Ambassador Lodge last night moved for adjournment of the vote on the Cyprus resolution, which [Page 522] had been expected to pass in Committee by a small majority. Certain amendments were expected and there was also the alternative of introducing a new resolution which would eliminate the reference to self-determination and which would indicate that some progress had been made since the last resolution. Mr. Walmsley expected the Greek resolution would be amended before it was adopted. If it came to a vote in its present form, the US would have to abstain. (Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75)
Later that day by a vote of 33 to 20 with 25 abstentions, among them the United States, the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Cyprus. (U.N. Doc. A/ 3794) The approved text of the resolution, which noted the importance of having the principle of self-determination applied in the case of Cyprus, was based on a Greek subamendment to a four-power amendment to the operative part of the original Greek draft resolution. The operative part of the amended resolution reads:
“Expresses its earnest hope that further negotiations and discussions will be undertaken in spirit cooperation with view have right self-determination applied in case of people of Cyprus.”
Two days later, however, at the plenary session of the Assembly, the amended resolution failed to attain the two-thirds majority required for final approval. The vote was 31 for, 24 against, with 24 abstentions, among them the United States.