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

248. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission at the United Nations¹

Washington, November 17, 1960—7:58 p.m.

934. Re New York’s 1346.²Dept agrees opposition to Kasavubu will exploit every available opportunity frustrate GA approval Congo credentials. Assume one effort this direction may be attempt claim two-thirds majority required approve Credentials Committee report. Appreciate Mission’s concern re precedent this may establish in Chirep connection, but feel this aspect should not constitute deterrent strong US assertion majority vote adequate in this case. We agree any action this matter very likely be cited in future credentials problems. Hence we believe every effort should be made stress routine aspects Congo case and avoid any statements which would commit us in future instances. Delegation should stress Congo is newly admitted member UN now represented in New York by universally-recognized Chief of State who named members of his delegation before entire Assembly in recent statement.³ Question therefore simply one of seating delegates so named and should not be considerd an important question under the terms of Article 18(2).⁴ In such situation, it would appear difficult for proponents of two-thirds thesis make a convincing case.

With view to possible impact on Chirep issue, del should avoid precise general definition GA voting requirements re credentials reports and limit itself to Congo question.

Despite need for USUN forcefully maintain simple majority required in Congo case, delegation should under no circumstances acknowledge that precedent has been established, thereby preserving freedom of action re Chirep issue.⁵

Herter

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 303/11–1060. Confidential. Drafted by Sullivan and Tron, cleared by Hewitt, and approved by Bohlen who signed for Herter. Repeated to Taipei.
2. Telegram 1346, November 10, reported that a proposal to accept the Congolese credentials would not receive a two-thirds majority in the U.N. General Assembly, and requested instructions on what position the U.S. Delegation should take. (Ibid.)
3. For text of Kasavubu’s November 8 address before the U.N. General Assembly, see U.N. doc. A/PV.912.
4. Article 18(2) of the U.N. Charter defines which questions before the U.N. General Assembly require a two-thirds vote.
5. On November 17, the mission reported that the Soviet Delegation was attempting to delay release of the Credential Committee’s report, and that it was trying to counter these efforts. (Telegrams 1430 and 1433; Department of State, Central Files, 303/11–1760) The General Assembly considered the question of Congo representation November 18–20. On November 22, it adopted Resolution 1498 (XV) accepting the credentials of representatives named in Kasavubu’s November 8 letter to Boland. For a record of these proceedings, see U.N. docs. A/PV.917–924. For text of Resolution 1498 (XV), see U.N. doc. A/4684.