Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, United Nations and General International Matters, Volume II

101. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations¹

Washington, October 20, 1959—7:04 p.m.

383. Subject: Proposed USSR Resolution re UN Secretariat. Delga 186.²

USSR Resolution would undoubtedly appeal to many nations, since on surface at least objectives are economy and efficiency of operations. In addition to this consideration, would give USSR opportunity pose as benefactor small nations, disinterested party championing economy and win new “respectability”.

However this is Soviet ploy of long standing. Some indications are they may now be exploiting to greater extent. Mission will recall Czech Resolution in Fifth Committee re UN Field Missions (Delga 153 and Gadel 46³).

Department considers proposed resolution has following serious defects from U.S. point of view:

1. Would give USSR position of power in UN management it does not now enjoy.

2. As in Czech resolution, purpose this proposal obviously political rather than budgetary, being part of over-all Soviet strategy to weaken and hamstring UN and field missions under guise of improving administrative facets of organization.

3. Would give USSR opportunity to gather information which could be politically and/or propagandistically valuable to them for use at later date.

4. Establishment of Committee “appointed by member governments” would open door to political wrangle which helpful only to Soviets. (Department has “parity” in mind here.)

5. Past experience with such bodies (most recent was Public Information) most unhappy and time-consuming in rejecting harmful Soviet recommendations.

(See, for example, loose, contention-inviting language Soviet resolution: “… that since last general review a number of important changes have taken place in the work of the organization and many new factors have appeared.”)⁴

6. Resolution as drawn reflects lack of confidence in SYG.

Additionally, experience shows that over-all surveys such as contemplated here have little practical utility. What is needed is detailed and precise study specific areas. Accordingly you should:

1. Consult British, Canadians and in your discretion other interested Members to explain U.S. reasoning and position on this proposal.

2. You should consult SYG to obtain his reaction to USSR proposal. In anticipation of his lack of enthusiasm for USSR proposal, you should urge him to gain support for his position, and obtain his and Secretariat’s reaction re desirability of US proposal.

3. You may wish to make following counterproposal: The Administrative Management Staff, created by SYG last spring for the very purpose of examining UN organization, as well as the Advisory Committee, should be encouraged to work on specific areas of the UN Secretariat as well as field bodies. If additional expert help is needed by either, they should be empowered to engage disinterested professionals at direction of SYG. Possible counter-resolution, operative parts of which might be, follows:

“Recognizing the utility of conducting periodic general reviews of the structure and functioning of UN bodies with a view to reducing expenses and increasing efficiency,

“Noting that it was with this thought in mind that the Secretary-General last spring established an Administrative Management Staff in the Office of the Controller,

“Requests that the SYG pursue this forward-looking step by taking such measures as he may deem appropriate to strengthen the work of the Staff, and,

“Suggests that the Management Staff explore the advisability of engaging the services of a reputable firm of private consultants and/or qualified academic authorities in the field of corporate management to conduct a survey of the organization and activities of the Secretariat and its field bodies.”

Para 3 and 4 of USSR draft resolution could be included.⁵

Herter

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320.15/10–1659. Limited Official Use; Priority. Drafted by Freimarck and Puhan; cleared by Sisco and in substance with OES; and approved by Wilcox who signed for Herter.
2. Delga 186, October 16, transmitted the text of a Soviet draft resolution proposing the establishment of a committee to review the organization and activities of the U.N. Secretariat and its field bodies. (Ibid.)
3. For text of the Czech draft resolution, see U.N. doc. A/C.5/L.572 or U.N. doc. A/4336, para. 18. Neither Delga 153 nor Gadel 46 has been found.
4. Ellipses in the source text.
5. Delga 238, October 22, transmitted the text of a U.S. draft resolution on a management survey of the U.N. Secretariat. (ibid., 320.15/10–2259) The Department commented on the U.S. draft in telegram 396, October 23. (Ibid.)