168. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations 1

2090. Re urtel 2944.2 Confirming telecons today, Mission authorized agree GA recess on schedule April 21.

While we very much wanted complete debate on Korea, Hungary and Tibet, we recognize that extending session would likely encounter strong opposition. We doubt seriously we could muster two-thirds majority to reconsider earlier decision to adjourn April 21 and moreover it is clear that extending session would open the gates to numerous pressures to prolong session indefinitely. Moreover, in context atmosphere engendered by Cuban and UNRWA debates in particular, we think drawing session out unlikely be productive from our viewpoint even if we could do so. As far as African item is concerned, as long as Africans themselves are not distressed by failing conclude consideration this item, and particularly since they have insisted in injecting unacceptable elements on target dates into res on our item, we prepared see this wind up without res.

Main additional action Dept eager to see taken not covered by urtel is Political Committee decision on seating North Korean representatives. We believe North Korean response to Committee’s condition on seating their representatives clearly unsatisfactory and that it would be desirable, especially from viewpoint domestic ROK problems, to have Committee take decision that North Korean response is unacceptable and they are not to be seated. This also confirms Department’s position you should seek “no decision” on Hungarian credentials.

Rusk
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 320/4–2061. Confidential. Repeated to Seoul. Drafted on April 20 by William B. Buffum (IO/UNP); cleared by Olcott Deming and Henry J. Tasca (AF), Harlan M. Cleveland (IO), William H. Sullivan (FE), and Edward T. Long (EUR); and approved by Woodruff Wallner (IO).
  2. Telegram 2944 from USUN, April 20, described a meeting that Dean and Deputy Representative Charles W. Yost had with General Assembly President Frederick H. Boland, Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, and Under Secretary Andrew W. Cordier on April 20. Boland pointed out that all items on the agenda could not be covered before the General Assembly’s scheduled adjournment. He proposed that a group of neutral countries might introduce a resolution that would defer consideration of certain specified issues (Korea, outer space, the second conference on the peaceful use of atomic energy, a vacancy in the investment committee, the Czech item, the Romanian item, Tibet, Hungary, and Africa) until the 16th General Assembly. (Ibid., 320/4–2061)