40. Circular Instruction From the Department of State to Certain Diplomatic Missions 1
SUBJECT
- Representations on Attitudes of Representatives to the United Nations
The Department wishes to call to the attention of the various diplomatic missions a matter of importance in respect to relations between our Mission in New York and other Missions accredited to the United Nations.
At times governments ask concerning the performance of their delegations at meetings of the United Nations or its Specialized Agencies, or we must ask for the support of a government when we know that its delegation in New York may not be sympathetic to our point of view. What is said in such cases may have considerable impact on relations between our delegation in New York and delegations of other countries. There is always the possibility of antagonizing the representatives of other countries in New York, with consequent, unfortunate effect on important issues before the Assembly. Slightly adverse statements by us have at times resulted in far stronger reactions on the part of other governments than was ever intended, for example, the recall of representatives of other governments. Such recall may make our relations with other delegations more difficult since they will resent what appears to them to be interference by the United States in the affairs of other governments. Thus, delegations may become hesitant to express their views or to deal frankly with our own delegation.
Ambassador Lodge has asked that the Department and the United States Embassies make no comment which might be interpreted by other governments as a complaint concerning their representative to the United Nations in New York, without first consulting with him. It is therefore requested that no protest or critical comment be made about any delegation or representative to the United Nations without specific authorization from the Department.
[Page 72]The foregoing is not intended to discourage the normal exchange of views between missions and the governments to which they are accredited; it applies only to critical comment on representatives to the United Nations.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 310/10–1458. Confidential. Drafted by Monsma and Hawley; cleared by Bacon, ARA, AF, ODA, and NEA; and approved by Wilcox. Sent to 56 posts worldwide, excluding Europe. A second instruction was addressed to all European diplomatic posts except Belgrade, Bucharest, Budapest, Moscow, Prague, Warsaw, and Bonn. Its first two paragraphs and those in the source text were identical; the following statement replaced the last two paragraphs: “It is accordingly requested that Missions exercise caution to avoid comments which might imply personal criticism of individual representatives or delegates, without specific authorization from the Department.” (CA–3493, October 14; ibid.) A Cargo-to-Wilcox note attached to the source text noted that this more general language had been substituted at EUR’s request.↩