162. Record of the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Department of State, Washington, September 14, 1960, 9:15 a.m.1
[Here follows item 1. “Intelligence.”]
2. Top Foreign Officials Attending UN General Assembly
The Secretary remarked that our troubles are beginning on this problem. Nehru is definitely coming and now it seems there is some possibility that Macmillan may be interested in attending the General Assembly. Diefenbaker probably will want to come. Later in the meeting, Mr. Jones noted that, with Nehru coming, it might well be that President Ayub of Pakistan and Madam Bandaranaike of Ceylon would also wish to come. Mr. Mann2 commented that there is a rumor that Kubitschek of Brazil might wish to attend. Presumably, Trujillo3 will also be there. Of course, we already know that Nasser and Tito are coming.
There was discussion as to how the delegations should be received upon their arrival in New York. If a State Department representative from the Protocol Division receives them, this may give some flavor of US approval or participation in their visit. Inclusion of our USUN political liaison officers in the reception committees might give the same impression and would draw press attention. It was decided that the best procedure would be for all delegations to be received by a State Department security representative. Thereafter, on a selective basis, our USUN political liaison officers could call on delegations at their residences.
The Secretary confirmed that he did not wish to give a reception in New York for other UN delegations. Perhaps consideration could be given to a reception to be offered by Wadsworth after Khrushchev has departed.
The Secretary said that the President plans to give a luncheon for representatives of the new states while he is in New York on September 22. He will give a luncheon in Washington on the 21st for the Latin American representatives.
[Page 321]Mr. Huston4 reported that the port security group met yesterday; we have been assured of the full cooperation of all interested agencies in connection with handling foreign delegations in New York. He said the Army would furnish some personnel in civilian clothes.
The Secretary felt that Castro should be treated exactly like Khrushchev and Kadar so far as restriction on movements is concerned. He asked Mr. Mann to advise the Cuban Embassy of our decision in this matter immediately following the staff meeting so that the Secretary could make a statement to this effect at his press conference.5
With regard to the possibility that Nehru would wish to come to Washington to see the President, the Secretary remarked that, if this takes place, it will start a chain of events which will cause great problems. He said that these matters would be handled on a case-by-case basis under the coordination of Mr. Hare.
Responding to the Secretary’s inquiry, Mr. Macomber said that he had received calls from several Congressional representatives concerning the Nasser visit. The members of Congress are concerned regarding the Nasser visit as well as the prospect that Egypt will be a member of the Security Council.
3. Public Appearances of Personalities Attending UN Meeting
Mr. Berding reported that Khrushchev has apparently received several requests to appear on public programs, although there has been no flood of such requests. It seems he may appear on Meet the Press and it has been suggested that he appear on the Dave Garroway show and Person to Person.6 In response to inquiries from the networks and other organizations concerning the advisability of permitting Khrushchev and other controversial officials to appear, Mr. Berding said we are taking the position that these decisions must be made by the organizations concerned. However, he has pointed out that Khrushchev and other Soviet bloc leaders will use such occasions for propaganda hostile to the US.
4. VOA Coverage of UN
Mr. Washburn7 said that VOA needs State Department guidance concerning coverage of the UN meeting. In response to Mr. Washburn’s question, the Secretary said he would depart as scheduled for [Page 322] the UN but it was not certain when he would speak there. The President has taken the US time on September 22 and, if the Brazilians agree, the President will be the first speaker on that day.
The Secretary said that the present prospect is for 3 solid weeks of speeches at the UN so that there will not be much committee work during that period. Of course, the general committee will meet on September 20 and 21 to consider organizational problems, admission of members, etc. Khrushchev can be expected to participate in these deliberations, especially as regards admission of Communist China.
[Here follow items 5. “UN Security Council Meeting on Congo,” 6. “US-Canadian Relations,” 7. “Algeria,” 8. “Senegal-Soudan,” and 9. “Africa.”]
10. President’s Speech
Mr. Smith said he was working on a draft of the President’s speech at the UN but hoped he could have more time on it. The Secretary said that, in view of his absence in Mexico, Mr. Smith should send it directly to the White House when clearances were obtained. He thought we might have some problems with the Pentagon.
[Here follow discussion of items 11. “Far Eastern Affairs” and 12. “Bogota Meeting,” a list of the items used during discussion of item 1, and an attendance list.]
- Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75. Secret.↩
- Thomas C. Mann, Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs.↩
- Presumably Hector Bienvenido Trujillo Molina, President of the Dominican Republic.↩
- Harris H. Huston, Deputy Administrator of the Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs.↩
- See footnote 4, Document 160.↩
- Dave Garroway was a U.S. television peronality; “Person to Person” was a U.S. television interview program hosted by Edward R. Murrow.↩
- Abbott Washburn, Deputy Director of the U.S. Information Agency.↩