255. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the President’s Staff Secretary (Goodpaster)1
I am attaching herewith a copy of an instruction to our United Nations Delegation which I have just approved.2 It came to me a few minutes ago for immediate decision since a vote on the resolution, to which reference is made, will probably be taken during the course of a session scheduled at 8:30 p.m.
The resolution itself, of which I am also attaching a copy, contains much language with which we disagree. It also contains some good language. The resolution was introduced by forty-two African and [Page 455] Asian nations who refused amendments which we and some of our European friends offered so as to be able to refuse Soviet amendments of a very objectionable character which were likewise being offered. The resolution will inevitably carry by an overwhelming vote with a few colonial nations abstaining but, as far as we know, none voting against. Our Delegation in New York is unanimously and strongly in favor of our voting for the resolution. This is likewise true of our African and Far Eastern Bureaus here and also Chip Bohlen, who is supervising our United Nations operations in the Department. Our European Bureau is in favor of abstention and the British have been pressing us hard to abstain. It is my own personal belief, while holding my nose with regard to much of the language, that on balance we should vote for it. It is a declaratory resolution and does not call upon the respective states to do other than abide by the Charter provisions (last operative paragraph).
The President might wish to look at the resolution itself and, if he feels strongly that it is so objectionable in some of the language that we should abstain I would certainly understand. I should add just one thing. If we abstain on this resolution, I am afraid that we may lose such influence as we possess when it comes to being of assistance to the French in securing a moderate Algerian resolution.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 321.4/12–860. Confidential. Drafted by Herter. The source text bears the typescript notation, “The White House approved, 12/8/60 and telegram sent.”↩
- Subject to any decision the President might wish to take. [Footnote in the source text. Reference is to telegram 1093 to USUN. No copy was attached to the source text, but a copy is ibid., 321.4/12–660. A copy of U.N. doc. A/L.323 containing the text of the Afro-Asian draft resolution on colonialism was attached to the source text.]↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩