Office of the Historian

95. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Diplomatic Missions1

Washington, September 17, 1959—7:45 p.m.

319. Infotel—Question Chinese representation handled in General (Steering) Committee with less vituperation than previous years. By vote of 12 to 7 with 1 abstention, Committee adopted our moratorium proposal. Despite our request for supporting statements in Committee, French, Belgian, Liberian and Brazilian representatives declined; France because of failure China to support France on Algeria; Belgium because its representative belonged to political party that supports recognition Chicoms; and Brazil also for domestic political reasons. Belaunde (Peru), President General Assembly, who did not vote in Committee despite our request, said Peru definitely would support moratorium procedure in plenum. Our Mission reports Brazilian representative said support for US position on issue was “heaviest burden Latin American countries had to bear in return for US friendship.” Venezuelan permanent representative told our Mission he hoped be able convince his Foreign Minister continue support moratorium procedure in plenum so as to present solid Western front during Khrushchev visit. He informed our Mission support our position was political “hot potato” at home since public opinion could not understand why matter should not be debated. He expressed relief we intend make substantive speech on issue.2

Dillon
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 320/9–1759. Secret. Drafted by Moor; cleared by Bock, EUR, NEA, and ARA; and approved by Bruns who signed for Dillon. Sent to 10 missions.↩
  2. Robertson presented the U.S. position on Chinese representation in the United Nations to the General Assembly on September 21. For text of his statement, see U.N. doc. A/PV.800. On September 22, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 1351 (XIV) rejecting India’s request to include the question of Chinese representation on the General Assembly agenda and stating that the 14th General Assembly would not consider proposals to exclude representatives of the Republic of China or to seat representatives of the People’s Republic of China. For text, see U.N. doc. A/4354. For a record of the debate and vote on this issue, see U.N. docs. A/PV.800–803.↩