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

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

New York, October 11, 1960—2 a.m.

954. Subject: ChiRep recapitulation.²

1. In addition new members, 13 of whom abstained throughout while 3, Nigeria, Senegal and Mali opposed, following are vote changes from 14th GA on US moratorium:

a. Res as whole, from 44–29, 9 to 42–34, 22; Laos and Malaya from support to abstain, Cuba and Ethiopia from abstain to oppose.

b. Para One, from 41–30, 11 to 38–34, 26; Ecuador, Malaya and Laos from support to abstain, Cuba from abstain to oppose.

c. Para Two, 43–29, 10 to 41–34, 23; Laos and Panama from support to abstain, Cuba and Ethiopia from abstain to oppose.

2. As Dept will note, closest point was Para One where margin only four votes. (As was true last year Mexico, New Zealand and Venezuela abstained this para.) Believe closeness this vote should be emphasized when gratitude is expressed either by Dept or in capitals to those govts whose support was crucial this year. We believe prompt high level expressions of gratitude should be made to all supporting states who stood firm this year as well as to Libya, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia who abstained despite pressures to oppose. Gratitude should also be expressed for supporting statements by Spain, Greece, UK, Panama (despite their reservation on Para Two), Costa Rica, Australia and Philippines. (Phil Del had at one point removed selves from speakers list. According Gamboa³ this came after poll of their delegates revealed majority opposed speaking in face overwhelming opposition of ASAF group. Later member ChiDel told US Phil decision reinstate selves on speakers list was result approach, recommended by USGADel, by Chi Amb Manila to Serano.⁴ In any case Marcos⁵ made extremely effective statement.)

3. On basis conversations with new African Dels prior to vote, observation behavior dels on floor immediately before vote, and actual vote on ChiRep issue, we conclude:

a. Strong current developed since beginning of GA, from initial position of few new African Dels favoring moratorium, toward abstention and even opposition. If vote had come later it might have been worse. Without intensive efforts GADel officers bulk of Africans probably would not have even held to abstention.

b. There is evidence USGADel efforts had toward end approached point where further conversations with Africans could have become counter-productive. Member of ChiDel and also French specifically warned that GADel could not press new Africans further without causing antagonism. Some dels that had earlier indicated position favorable to moratorium were acutely uncomfortable in presence USDel officers. Some of them stated they felt they simply could not break unity of new states. Unity factor was obviously important in decision Malagasy Republic, Cameroun, Congo (Brazzaville) and Togo to abstain.

c. Negative vote of Mali is explained by virtual break with France and rapprochement with Guinea. Negative vote of Senegal probably due to anxiousness not to be accused by Mali of having “sold out to West.” Negative vote of Nigeria came as surprise to many dels (including US and apparently UK). Had Nigerians made their position known to other Africans before vote, it would have probably moved more to join them in opposition.

d. Reports received from Chinese and French sources about inclination Central African Republic and Chad to vote against moratorium were probably correct. In addition, vigorous argumentation against moratorium put forward by Upper Volta Del member, together with apparent great activity of Upper Volta Del, probably indicated they were basically antagonistic to moratorium. Conseil de l’Entente thus probably abstained on basis precarious compromise. Similar abstention many Conseil members next year unlikely. Among former French Equatorial states, great activity on GA floor between Chad and Central African Republic immediately prior to vote probably shows they undecided until end whether to abstain or vote against.

e. There is no firm evidence so far that Soviets themselves have discussed ChiRep issue with new African Dels in UNGA. They could safely leave task to Ghana, Guinea, UAR (whose influence on new African Moslem states should probably not be underestimated) and other neutrals opposed to moratorium. On other hand, Plimsoll (Australia) was informed by Quaison-Sackey (Ghana) after vote that Ghana Del had not pressured new Africans regarding ChiRep; moratorium would otherwise have been defeated; Ghana Del would put pressure on next year. By contrast proponents of moratorium other than US, and to milder extent France, appear not to have been active with new Africans.

f. On basis available evidence and foregoing considerations, it apparent more new African states will vote against moratorium next year, not from lack of understanding US position, but basically for same reasons that prompted them to support neutralist Five-Power resolution: Feeling that neutral countries have obligation to bring cold war antagonists together.

4. Positions which we had not anticipated were those of Cyprus, Ethiopia and Nigeria. In case of Cyprus, member of that del came over to tell us immediately before voting started that contrary to previous understanding his del was instructed to abstain throughout. This last minute notice gave no opportunity for attempt to change their position. We believe point should be raised Nicosia and would appreciate Embassy evaluation of apparent last minute change. Prior to vote, Satterthwaite explained to Amb Imru⁶ (Ethiopia) importance US attached this matter. Imru arranged for Satterthwaite to see Aklilou⁷ at dinner that night. Arrangements at dinner were such however that discussion this subject did not prove possible.

5. General mood after voting of many of those who supported moratorium was “this is last year for moratorium; if vote had been delayed several weeks we would have been defeated.”

Wadsworth

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 303/10–1160. Confidential.
2. On October 8, by a vote of 43 for, 34 against, and 22 abstentions, the U.N. General Assembly adopted Resolution 1493 (XV), which rejected the Soviet Union’s request to include an item on Chinese representation on the 15th General Assembly agenda and stated that the 15th General Assembly would not consider any proposals to exclude representatives of the Republic of China or to seat representatives of the People’s Republic of China. For text, see U.N. doc. A/4684. For a record of these proceedings, see U.N. doc. A/PV.895.
3. Philippine Delegation member Melquiades J. Gamboa.
4. Presumably Felixberto M. Serrano, Philippine Foreign Minister.
5. Philippine Delegation member Ferdinand E. Marcos.
6. Mikael Imru, Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States.
7. Presumably Aklilou Abte Wold, Deputy Premier of Ethiopia.