Office of the Historian

201. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State1

New York, October 1, 1960—5 p.m.

867. Re: Reorganization of Secretariat. Moore (UK) said this afternoon UK Mission recommending Macmillan and party raise, during discussions in Washington this weekend, serious dangers involved in proposal which was yesterday launched by Ghana’s Pres Nkrumah, proposing advisory group of Under-Secretaries to UNSYG representing various political power groupings.2 Moore said they took this proposal very seriously because it would put political consideration into highest level of Secretariat in manner which would permit Soviets to gain either positive direction or at least negative control (by kind of veto) over operation of Secretariat. This would be totally contrary to fundamental concept of Secretariat and may be basic Soviet aim to transform and thereby gain control of UN to their own use.

Moore said they feared certain degree of appeal for proposal of this kind could develop. Most delegations would agree Soviet suggestion [Page 375] to create triumvirate to replace SYG,3 since it required Charter amendment for one thing was unrealistic. They would however be susceptible to argument Soviets would have to be given some concession to their point of view. Net result seems be Nkrumah’s idea. UK Del feels tough line opposing this will have to be taken, perhaps by threatening, if not withdrawal from UN by major Western Powers, at least financial cold shoulder and tepid cooperation. Would appreciate Dept’s reactions to this and other telegrams reporting this subject as soon as possible, because of need to combat it before it picks up momentum.

Wadsworth
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 310/10–160. Secret; Niact. Another copy of this telegram was initialed by Herter. (Washington National Records Center, RG 59, Conference Files: FRC 83–0068, CF 1772)↩
  2. Nkrumah proposed in a September 30 luncheon address before the U.N. Correspondents Association that the United Nations appoint three deputies to the Secretary–General, each of whom would be acceptable to Western, Eastern, and neutralist countries and would have substantive, clearly defined responsibilities.↩
  3. Proposed in Khrushchev’s September 23 address before the U.N. General Assembly; see Document 183.↩