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

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

Washington, December 5, 1960—8:33 p.m.

1057. Re: GA Recess Schedule (urtel 1628).² Department strongly prefers that resumption 15th GA be deferred until late February or early March and USDel authorized take this position both in corridor discussions and December 9 General Committee meeting. This would give new administration sufficient time to review positions to be taken on remaining items. We believe this factor overrides any inconveniences that may be involved in rescheduling certain meetings of specialized agencies and other UN organs.

Soviet proposal to renew 15th GA on January 3 appears designed to clear deck for Khrushchev proposal for Special GA on disarmament in spring. Resumed GA on January 3 would take place during transitional period of US Government, and since it unlikely that 15th GAcould complete its agenda before January 20, new administration would be confronted with taking positions on items immediately after it had assumed responsibility. Moreover, we doubt that there would be any strong desire on part other delegations to complete work expeditiously, and drawn out resumed session would be likely result. On other hand, apart from whatever effect it would have on Khrushchev proposal, resumption 15th GA in late February or early March would have advantage cited by Loutfi, i.e., permit new US administration assess position and provide rest period for tired delegations.

Above considerations constitute basic rationale for our strong preference in deferring 15th GA resumption to late February or early March. In your corridor discussions, we believe principal reason which should be given is that 15th GA thus far has been moving in highly charged atmosphere and that more extended period of reflection and assessment by all delegations before resumption is desirable than would be possible if GA resumed in early January.³

Herter

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320/12–360. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Sisco, cleared by Bohlen and Stoessel, and approved and signed by Herter.
2. Telegram 1628 from USUN, December 3, reported that the Soviet Union wished to resume the 15th regular session of the U.N. General Assembly in early January 1961 and requested authorization to advocate resumption of the session in March 1961. (Ibid.)
3. On December 15, the General Assembly decided to recess its 15th regular session on December 20, and to resume it on March 7, 1961. (U.N. doc. A/4684, p. 61)