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

126. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Wallner) to the Secretary of State¹

Washington, January 22, 1960.

SUBJECT

• Your Luncheon Conversation with Ambassador Lodge on January 22: 15th General Assembly Presidency

Discussion

Ambassador Lodge may be expected to raise with you the question of the presidency of the 15th General Assembly. There are at present two announced candidates for this office—Nosek, Deputy Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia, and Boland, the Irish Permanent UN Representative. The Nosek candidacy was formally advanced last July and the Soviet bloc has since been actively campaigning in its behalf. The Boland candidacy was put forward late in December. Since then, on January 5, the Italian Embassy put us on notice that the question of a possible Italian candidacy was still open (Tab A²) and Embassy Rome reported on January 20 that the Italian Foreign Minister has still taken no decision on this matter (Tab B).

In this situation no consensus has been reached among the West Europeans on the Boland candidacy. Our UN Mission reports on the basis of consultations with the West European delegations that there is no opposition to Boland and that the UK delegation has found the West Europeans favorably disposed toward him but without instructions. The French have expressed the hope that no commitment will be given to Boland until the Italians decide what to do. Our UN Mission and the British delegation agree that the only thing standing in the way of a general West European consensus in favor of Boland is the uncertainty with respect to the Italian intentions (Tab C). The British Foreign Office has itself been reluctant to make a commitment to Boland this early, apparently being concerned over the possible implications for the GA presidency of a Summit meeting, a concern we do not share and which, according to the British UN delegation, is not shared by the West Europeans generally.

Ambassador Lodge discussed this matter with the President on January 13.³ The President indicated that he opposes the election of a Soviet Bloc candidate as President of the General Assembly, particularly just before the US national elections, and that we should proceed as rapidly as possible to take the steps necessary to prevent such a development. Mr. Merchant on January 13 saw Lord Hood to urge the British to encourage prompt West European agreement on a candidate and to discourage an Italian candidacy (Tab D). Similar approaches have been made to the British in New York and London (Tab E) without any definitive result so far (Tab F). Furthermore, the British believe it may be some time before the Italians take a decision on their candidacy, which the British understand hinges on a possible Government crisis within the next few months.

Ambassador Lodge has therefore proposed that he reply next Tuesday to Foreign Minister Aiken’s letter announcing the Boland candidacy⁴ with a definite commitment to support this candidacy and to release this reply to the press. Ambassador Lodge also proposes to inform the Italians of our intentions and the reasons therefor the previous day, and to say that should the Italians later decide to run we would not stand in the way of any accommodation reached between them and the Irish (Tab C).

We agree with Ambassador Lodge that unless we take an early and vigorous stand against Nosek, he may win by default and that Boland should prove a stronger candidate against Nosek than any Italian, both because of the esteem felt for Boland among GA delegations generally and because of Ireland’s “neutral” position.

The French Embassy this morning asked the Department to hold up any announcement of support for Boland until the French have had an opportunity to talk with the Italians. The French agree as to the urgency of the problem, but fear that an Italian candidacy would greatly complicate the picture and are willing to approach the Italians in order to try to clear up the situation. The French Ambassador plans to take up this matter with you this afternoon.⁵

It seems clear that the French and British Foreign Offices would not wish to see a firm commitment made to Boland without a clearer picture of the Italian position.

Recommendation

1. That you say to Ambassador Lodge that before making any formal commitment to Boland we wish to see further efforts made quickly with the Italians in order to minimize any possible misunderstanding on their part, noting that the French wish to take the matter up with the Italians.

2. That we share Ambassador Lodge’s sense of urgency in this matter and that we do not intend to let it drag on in an unsettled way.⁶

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320/1–2260. Confidential. Drafted by Hartley, initialed by Cargo and Wilcox, and sent to Herter through S/S.
2. None of the tabs is attached. Tab A is ibid., 320/1–560. Regarding Tab B, see footnote 8, Document 123. Tab C is in Department of State, Central Files, 320/1–2160. Regarding Tab D, see footnote 2, Document 123. Tab E is Document 123. Regarding Tab F, see footnote 6, ibid.
3. No record of this conversation has been found.
4. See footnote 2, Document 120.
5. A memorandum of Lebel’s conversation with Kohler, White, and McBride is in Department of State, Central Files, 320/1–2260. Alphand reiterated Lebel’s arguments and requested that the U.S. delay announcing its support for Boland until Couve de Murville could speak with Pella the following day. Agreeing that the situation could develop into a serious problem, Herter consented. A memorandum of their conversation is ibid.; its substance was transmitted to certain posts in telegram 2286 to Rome, January 22, repeated in telegrams 5548 to London, 3088 to Paris, and 637 to USUN. (Ibid.)
6. No record of Lodge’s meeting with Herter has been found. Lodge, however, stated in telegram 654 from USUN, January 25, that he had told Herter he would inform Boland of U.S. support for his candidacy on January 27, and that Herter had approved this arrangement. (Ibid., 320/1–2560)