159. Telegram 169731 From the Department of State to the Mission in Geneva, July 18, 1975, 1842Z.1 2
TELEGRAM
Department of State
169731
O R 181842Z JUL 75
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE
INFO AMEMBASSY
ROME
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
STATE 169731
E.O. 11652:
TAGS: UNWFC, FAO,
ECOSOC
SUBJECT: US POSITION FOR ECOSOC ITEM 17 (A)
REF: GENEVA 5596, STATE
162416
1. THERE FOLLOWS FURTHER GUIDANCE ON ITEM ON WORLD FOOD COUNCIL AS REQUESTED IN FIRST REFTEL, IN ADDITION TO SECOND REFTEL:
2. USDEL SHOULD MAKE INTENSIVE EFFORTS TO MOVE WFC REPORT THROUGH ECOSOC TO GA BY MANNER WHICH CONTINUES TO AVOID ANY RECORD OF CONFLICT IN 1ST SESSION OF WFC OR DIRECT CRITICISM OF HANNAH OR SECRETARIAT.
3. USDEL SHOULD SUPPORT CONVENING SECOND SESSION OF WFC IN FIRST HALF OF 1976 IN ROME. BELIEVE IT IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE LOCALE AT ROME HEADQUARTERS IN LINE WITH WORLD FOOD CONFERENCE RES. XXII, WHICH ALSO PROVIDES FOR SERVICING WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF FAO. FYI: HIGH LEVEL CONSIDERATION BEING GIVEN TO DELIVERING PROTESTS AT CONAKRY, DACCA, DAKAR AND MEXICO OVER PERFORMANCE AT FIRST SESSION, AND WE BELIEVE FOR THIS AND OTHER REASONS THAT WFC MAY BE LESS CONFRONTATIONAL AND MORE PRODUCTIVE IN THE FUTURE. WE CONSIDER IT MOST PROBABLE THAT TROUBLEMAKERS AT FIRST SESSION NOT ACTING UNDER SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS. END FYI.
4. DEL SHOULD MAKE CLEAR THAT USG WILL STRONGLY RESIST ANY ATTEMPT TO DISMISS DR. HANNAH UNDER PRESSURE SUCH AS RECENTLY GENERATED IN WFC. WE WOULD FIRMLY SUPPORT COMPLETION OF HIS ONE-YEAR APPOINTMENT AS ANNOUNCED BY SYG WALDHEIM, AS WELL AS HIS RETENTION FOR FURTHER PERIOD IF DESIRED.
5. IF ISSUE RAISED WITH USDEL, LATTER MAY CONCUR IN PROPOSAL TO ADD 2 OR 3 HIGHLY QUALIFIED LDC PROFESSIONALS TO WFC SECRETARIAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE BETTER GEOGRAPHIC BALANCE IF THIS WOULD HELP TO MEET LDC OBJECTIONS TO PRESENT SECRETARIAT.
6. WE UNDERSTAND PROPOSAL MADE TO SHIFT WALTERS TO LOWER RANK EXECUTIVE POSITION TO REDUCE AMERICAN PROFILE. WE WOULD NOT OPPOSE THIS ACTION IF HANNAH WISHES TO TAKE IT BUT ARE CONCERNED WITH ITS EFFECT ON U.S. PARTICIPATION WHEN HANNAH DEPARTS AT SOME FUTURE TIME. WE WOULD HOPE THAT CHOICE COULD BE PRESERVED BETWEEN (1) WEO EXEC DIR TO REPLACE HANNAH AND (2) AMERICAN DEPUTY IF LDC EXEC DIR IS CHOSEN. USDEL IS IN BEST POSITION TO DETERMINE HOW THIS MIGHT BE DONE AND IS AUTHORIZED TO REACT TO THE IMMEDIATE PROPOSAL IN THIS LIGHT ACCORDING TO ITS BEST JUDGMENT. KISSINGER
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use; Immediate. Drafted by Cobb; cleared by Placke, Wood, and Stokes, and in AID, USDA, and Department of Treasury; and approved by Buffum. Repeated to Rome and USUN. Department of State telegram 162416 is published as Document 158.↩
- The Department transmitted additional instructions to the Mission concerning the impending ECOSOC discussion of issues related to the World Food Council.↩