Office of the Historian

258. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State in Washington and the Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) in New York, June 26, 1957, 9:50 a.m.1

June 26, 1957, 9:50 a.m.

TELEPHONE CALL FROM AMB LODGE

L said everything he can find out convinces him we are going to have to have a special session. So L thinks he should take the line the US is in favor of it. If it breaks with nothing accomplished he can say [Page 642] the US reserves the right to get a special session. He will tell the newsmen the US favors a special session—there are varying views re the dates. The Sec said under the procedure established the Pres will be expected to consult with the gen comm. The Sec said we have not thought of anything to do. Why not suspend Hungary from membership until there is an independent govt. They both know that will be vetoed. L would prefer to have discussion rather than a res as the vote will not be as good. L would be opposed to re-enacting previous Hungarian resolutions and mentioned having one deploring the treatment of the satellites. The Sec said the more territory you take in the more votes you lose and L agreed. It is o.k. for [to] go for the special session and the Sec said re date as soon as we can have an adequate meeting. They agreed we must be solid re having a special meeting.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Phyllis D. Bernau.

    In a meeting with his staff, June 26, Dulles briefed the group on this conversation with Lodge. “Mr. Walmsley felt that one danger in reconvening lies in the Indian idea that such a session could definitively end UN interest in the subject; the Secretary thought this would be no greater problem in September than in July since the real question is what action can we devise to keep the issue alive and before the UN. The Secretary suggested for study, as one possibility, having the General Assembly recommend to the Security Council suspension of Hungarian membership in the UN. Ambassador Richards noted that there would continue to be pressure from Congress to keep the matter alive. It was left that, at least at the sponsors’ meeting today, Mr. Lodge would play by ear the question of reconvening the Eleventh General Assembly.” (Notes by Greene; Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75)

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