177. Editorial Note
The 15th regular session of the U.N. General Assembly opened at 3 p.m. September 20. Following the opening ceremonies and the appointment of a Credentials Committee, the General Assembly elected Frederick H. Boland of Ireland President of the session. Boland received 46 votes, Jiri Nosek of Czechoslovakia 25, and Thor Thors of Iceland 9. For a record of these proceedings, see U.N. doc. A/PV.864.
Next, the General Assembly considered the admission of new members to the United Nations. Three days earlier, at the opening meeting of the Fourth Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly, the United States had proposed that this item be transferred from the 15th General Assembly’s provisional agenda to the special session. All but one of the applicants were African nations, and the United States hoped that they would be admitted to the United Nations and thus be able to participate more fully in the debate on the Congo. The U.S. proposal was adopted, but later a motion to adjourn the debate was approved, and the item reverted to the 15th General Assembly. For a record of these proceedings, see U.N. doc. A/PV.858.
On September 20, the 15th regular session of the General Assembly decided by acclamation to grant U.N. membership to the following nations: Republic of Cameroun, Togolese Republic, Malagasy Republic, Republic of Somalia, Republic of the Congo (Leopoldville), Republic of Dahomey, Republic of Niger, Republic of Upper Volta, Republic [Page 342] of the Ivory Cost, Republic of Chad, Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon Republic, Central African Republic, and the Republic of Cyprus. With two exceptions, the delegation representing each new member state was seated in the General Assembly immediately after the vote admitting that nation. The Ivory Coast Delegation had not yet arrived in New York, while the problem of representation for the Republic of the Congo (Leopoldville) was referred to the Credentials Committee. The U.S. Mission at the United Nations reported to the Department that it had arranged with Boland to have the question of Congo representation transferred to the Credentials Committee. (Telegram 773 from USUN, September 22; Department of State, Central Files, 303/9–2260) The General Assembly also decided at this meeting to delay consideration of the application for membership of the Federation of Mali. For a record of these proceedings, see U.N. doc. A/PV.864. For texts of the resolutions admitting the new members, see U.N. General Assembly Resolutions 1476 (XV)–1489 (XV), printed in U.N. doc. A4684.
Following these decisions, representatives of several nations welcomed the new members, who then responded. Secretary of State Herter gave the U.S. statement. These proceedings lasted through two additional General Assembly meetings, ending on Septembr 21. For a record of the proceedings, see U.N. docs. A/PV.864, A/PV.865, and A/PV.866. The text of Herter’s statement is printed in U.N. doc. A/PV.864.
The General Assembly resumed consideration of the admission of new members the afternoon of September 28. The Republic of Senegal was admitted by acclamation to membership in the United Nations and its delegation escorted to its place in the General Assembly hall. Immediately thereafter, the Republic of Mali was admitted by acclamation and its delegation seated. For text of General Assembly Resolution 1490 (XV) conferring U.N. membership on Senegal and text of General Assembly Resolution 1491 (XV) granting U.N. membership to Mali, see U.N. doc. A4684. For a record of these proceedings, see U.N. doc. A/PV.876.