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

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

Washington, October 28, 1959.

SUBJECT

• Message to the Canadian Foreign Secretary on the Turkish Security Council Candidacy

Discussion

Ambassador Lodge on October 22 recommended a personal letter from you to the Canadian Foreign Secretary as “about the only hope” of discouraging the Canadians from promoting a compromise solution for the present deadlock in the Security Council elections between Turkey and Poland and of obtaining Canada’s support of Turkey (Tab B²). Since Mr. Murphy was then in Ottawa, Ambassador Lodge’s telegram was forwarded to him, and he and Ambassador Wigglesworth discussed the situation with the Foreign Secretary and Norman Robertson (Tab C). This discussion was inconclusive and our UN Mission telephoned yesterday to urge that you proceed with the personal message previously suggested. This seems to me highly desirable. Obtaining a solid NATO vote for Turkey is crucial to the success of its candidacy and, furthermore, it appears that other countries, New Zealand for example, are being influenced by the Canadian position.³ A campaign now to promote a compromise solution will not only be harmful to the Turkish candidacy but also prejudicial to our ability to obtain the best possible compromise if a compromise becomes necessary. The strength of our bargaining position in such an event will depend on the strength of the Turkish candidacy.

Recommendation

That you sign the attached telegram requesting Amembassy Ottawa to deliver a personal message from you to the Foreign Secretary (Tab A).

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 330/10–2859. Confidential. Drafted by Hartley on October 27 and initialed by Cargo, Wilcox, and Murphy. Sent also to Murphy and Herter through S/S, and designated 9700.
2. None of the tabs is attached to the source text. Tab A is infra. Tab B, Delga 223, October 23, is in Department of State, Central Files, 330/10–2259. Regarding Tab C, see footnote 2, infra.
3. At Wilcox’s suggestion, Herter had discussed New Zealand’s position on the Security Council elections with Nash on October 26. A memorandum of their conversation is in Department of State, Central Files, 330/10–2659. Wilcox’s October 23 memorandum recommending that Herter meet with Nash is ibid., 330/10–1959.