Office of the Historian

29. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Khartoum1

Washington, September 9, 1958—7:07 p.m.

333. Khartoum’s 335.2 Sudanese Ambassador saw Rountree September 93 on instructions to inquire regarding US attitude re Arab [Page 59] League Political Committee nomination Sudanese FonMin Mahjub for presidency 13th GA. Rountree expressed Department’s high regard Sudan Govt and Mahjub personally but explained US position has been to assure Malik and GOL of our support for Malik’s candidacy. When Ambassador inquired regarding US position should Malik voluntarily withdraw, Rountree replied we had no information such development and could not say what would be our attitude in the eventuality.

Should GOS approach you on this matter, you may make preliminary reply along foregoing lines.

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320/9–858. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Brewer, cleared in draft with Hartley, and approved by Rountree who signed for Dulles. Repeated to Cairo, Amman, Jidda, Baghdad, Benghazi, Beirut, and USUN.↩
  2. Telegram 335, September 9, reported that a Cairo newspaper had stated that the Arab League would unanimously support the Yugoslav candidate for President of the 13th U.N. General Assembly, in order to avoid supporting Malik. (Ibid.)↩
  3. A memorandum of this conversation is ibid.↩