Office of the Historian

398. Telegram From the Delegation to the Conference on the Law of the Sea to the Department of State1

Geneva, March 17, 1960—9 p.m.

1340. Law of Sea. Meeting with Stavropolous 16 March. Tunkin (USSR) and Garcia-Robles (Mexico) told Stavropolous they have blocking third any six-plus-six proposal and claimed United States “be begging on knees for twelve-mile territorial sea within three years”. USSR wants Poland and Albania as Vice Presidents Conference and Glaser (Roumania) Rapporteur Committee of Whole.

Mexico intends propose four changes rules of procedure:

(1)
In event President incapacitated, Chairman Committee of Whole replace him.
(2)
All proposals be voted on in Committee.
(3)
Reconsideration in Committee require two-thirds majority.
(4)
Verbatim records plenary and Committee meetings.

After discussion, Dean undertook discuss with Garcia-Robles possibility US agree all proposals be voted on in Committee if other proposals dropped.

Shukairy (Saudi Arabia) and Gundersen (Norway) reported opposed to Committee of Whole unless two-thirds voting majority required therein. Concensus conference decide in favor Committee of Whole.

USSR indicated Stavropolous Chinese representation question handled by simple statement their position as at first conference. US indicated it will make short reply. Inability European and Asian-African groups agree on candidates may necessitate postponement Vice-Presidential elections until 28 [18?] March. Japan, Liberia, Viet-Nam, UAR, Philippines, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Norway have announced candidacies for Vice President to date.

Meeting heads principal delegations to discuss slates scheduled noon 17 [18?] March.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 399.731/3–1760. Confidential.↩