Office of the Historian

95. Telegram 226331/Tosec 270030 From the Department of State to Secretary of State Kissinger, September 13, 1976, 2344Z [entered as September 14].1 2

September 13, 1976, 2344Z
[Page 1] [Page 2]

TELEGRAM
Department of State
266331

0 132344Z SEPT 76

FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO USDEL SECRETARY NIACT IMMEDIATE

STATE 266331 TOSEC 270030

E.O. 11652:GDS
TAGS: PFOR, UN, VN

SUBJECT: VIETNAM MEMBERSHIP IN THE UN

FOR Eagleburger FROM Habib

1. ON PRESIDENT’S INSTRUCTION, GOVERNOR SCRANTON AT NOON TODAY TOLD PRESS THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD VETO VIETNAM’S UN MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION BECAUSE THE SRV FAILED TO MEET THE UN CHARTER’S MEMBERSHIP TESTS ON HUMANITARIAN AND PEACE-LOVING GROUNDS.

2. LATE THIS AFTERNOON, AMBASSADOR SHERER LEARNED FROM THE FRENCH CHARGE IN NEW YORK OF THE FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS:

--VIETNAMESE AND FRENCH HAD GOTTEN TOGETHER IN PARIS AND AGREED TO SEEK POSTPONEMENT OF THE SRV MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION UNTIL NOVEMBER;

--VIETNAMESE MISSION IN NEW YORK WAS ADVISED OF THIS AGREEMENT BY TELEPHONE FROM THE MISSION IN PARIS.

3. BEFORE CALLING THE COUNCIL’S PRESIDENT TO REQUEST POSTPONEMENT, THE FRENCH NOTIFIED USUN AND ASKED FOR OUR REACTION. AFTER CHECKING WITH SCOWCROFT, HABIB AUTHORIZED SHERER TO RESPOND THAT US HAS NO OBJECTION TO FRENCH GOING AHEAD TO CONVEY TO THE SC PRESIDENT FRANCE’S REQUEST FOR POSTPONEMENT. USUN WAS TOLD TO TELL FRENCH THAT OUR COMMENT SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS INVOLVING ANY FUTURE COMMITMENT ON OUR PART.

4. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FRENCH CHARGE TOLD SHERER HE GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE LIBYAN PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL. THE LIBYAN HAS CALLED FOR CONSULTATIONS ON SEPTEMBER 14 IN LIEU OF COUNCIL MEETING. AT THAT TIME, HE WILL ASK FOR AGREEMENT TO POSTPONEMENT SINE DIE. WE WILL CONCUR. WE UNDERSTAND FROM FRENCH THAT SRV HAS INFORMED THE SOVIETS AND CHINESE OF THEIR AGREEMENT TO POSTPONEMENT. THE LIBYANS TOLD THE FRENCH THAT NEITHER THE CHINESE NOR THE SOVIETS OFFERED COMMENTS.

5. ASSUMING POSTPONEMENT IS ACHIEVED, WE INTEND ADOPTING A PRESS LINE AS FOLLOWS:

--WE CONCURRED IN THE POSTPONEMENT, AS DID OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL;

--WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE MATTER WILL AGAIN BE CONSIDERED BY THE COUNCIL;

--(IF ASKED) AS TO OUR FUTURE VOTE, WE WILL CONSIDER THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES. OUR DECISION WILL BE BASED UPON OUR JUDGMENT REGARDING VIETNAMESE QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP. ROBINSON

  1. Source: Department of State, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P840105–0036. Confidential; Niact Immediate. Drafted by Helman; cleared by Toussaint, Hyland, and in S/S; and approved by Habib. Kissinger was on a September 13–17 trip to several African capitals. The microfilm copy of the telegram reproduced here indicates it was sent on September 13, but it is entered in the electronic system as September 14.↩
  2. Robinson reported the postponement of consideration of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s application for membership in the United Nations in the aftermath of Scranton’s announcement that the United States would veto it in the Security Council.↩