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

205. Telegram From the Department of State to the Delegation at the United Nations¹

Washington, October 3, 1960—12:54 p.m.

573. Re ur 869, ChiRep.² Dept in accord Mission’s suggestion re tactical procedure for handling Guinea “amendment” moratorium resolution.

To implement your procedure it is necessary to secure Boland’s agreement to rule Guinea “amendment” is out of order. In pressing your suggestion following rationale should be given Boland in support your procedure: Guinea proposal cannot properly be considered amendment in accordance with normal practice. It is clearly substantive proposal whereas resolution before the Assembly is clearly procedural matter only. It is improper proposal (even if it had been submitted separately) because it is a substantive proposal on a matter which has not been placed on agenda of Assembly. Acceptance of Guinea proposed “amendment” would establish precedent which would make orderly parliamentary business almost impossible since any del could then frustrate Assembly anytime by sheer sequence of new motions.

Mission should make strong effort persuade UK and other dels assure Boland of their support of your proposed method handling Guinea proposed “amendment”.

In speaking to dels you might consider following supporting arguments as well as any others that seem appropriate to you:

1. In this session especially, in which Soviet leader, Khrushchev, is trying so hard dominate UN, non-communist states must stand firm in order maintain unity on important questions.

2. This obviously originated in Soviet Del, not Guinean and is intended to accentuate cold war. Consideration of other issues, such as disarmament, must not be delayed by endless debate on such matters as this.

On basis our understanding UK policy, Dept assumes UK would also regard Guinea “amendment” out of order.

However, even if Guinea “amendment” comes to substantive vote we do not agree UK should feel impelled vote in favor. Believe you should strongly press UK along following line: UK Del should vote against Guinea “amendment” on ground UK is supporting procedural moratorium proposal and is therefore opposed on procedural grounds to any proposal that would undercut moratorium effort. We think UK can take this line without in any way prejudicing its position on ChiCom recognition question.

Herter

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 303/10–160. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by Caprio and Sullivan and approved by Cargo who signed for Herter.
2. Telegram 869, October 1, transmitted the text of a Guinean draft amendment which proposed seating the People’s Republic of China in lieu of the Republic of China in the General Assembly. (Ibid.)