298. Memorandum From the Director of Special Protocol Services (Sanjuan) to Secretary of State Rusk1

SUBJECT

  • Future status of special diplomatic service

For the last few weeks the creation of a Special Assistant for Human Rights in the Secretariat has been discussed confidentially and otherwise throughout the Department, in the local press and in a magazine of national circulation (Tab A).2 The inference is drawn by the press that a policy advisor is to replace a front line operation.

A Special Assistant for Human Rights is needed. I imagine such a person could stimulate proper consideration by overseas posts for the civil rights program of this Administration; could advise on how much attention to give the human rights aspects of our policy towards Portugal and South Africa; could report on the treatment of Africans in the Sino-Soviet Bloc, the religious question in South Viet-Nam, our human rights posture at the U.N., and matters within the Department which concern human rights.

The operation which I direct should maintain close contact with such a Special Assistant for Human Rights—if that is the name—just as we maintain close relations now with the Bureau of African Affairs, for example. But to place Special Protocol Services under someone dealing exclusively with human rights is to destroy a good deal of our effectiveness. [Page 657] Not only have we claimed up to now that we cater to all the needs of all the diplomats, but we do in fact—and we also protect the interests of many Americans with legitimate complaints against diplomats. These cases can involve Africans, Asians, Europeans or our hemispheric neighbors. Many of the problems which we try to solve do not have a thing to do with human rights. In certain instances our relationship is and should be much closer to the Legal Advisor’s office than to any other area in the Department.

Incidents involving racial discrimination, which affect diplomats or other visitors, naturally enter into this broad context. But Africans and Asians now come to us with their many problems without feeling that they alone have all the troubles since we also help European and other diplomats besides the Afro-Asians.

The functions of Special Protocol have very little to do with the substance of Protocol, as Mr. Duke has pointed out numerous times (Tab B). To a certain degree ours are functions which have grown out of the recent diplomatic explosion and the resulting need to assist many small embassies whose staffs are here mostly to observe rather than to transact much business. I believe Special Protocol should be separated from Protocol and placed directly under the Under Secretary (U) as a small office with a unique function. I believe the name should be changed to Office of Special Diplomatic and Visitor Services. Ours is a line function.

I respectfully submit these considerations for your scrutiny without meaning in any way to belittle the need you may have for a Special Assistant for Human Rights.

  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, ORG 8. No classification marking.
  2. Neither Tab A nor Tab B was found.