Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, General; the United Nations, Volume I

501.BB/10–146: Circular telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics

restricted

[Washington,] October 1, 1946—2 p.m.

At early opportunity please convey informally following views to FoMin.

This Govt has expressed view in response to inquiry of Urug FoMin and suggestions of certain other Amer FonOffs that no commitments should be made by Amer Govts with regard to the support of specific AmReps for election to principal organs of United Nations until delegations meet in NYC for General Assembly. This Govt holds to this view and has made no commitments. However, in view postponement meeting¹² and presence several delegations from other AmReps in this country it is recognized that some informal discussion of views regarding selection of AmReps for these posts is inevitable. Dept wishes inform FoMin informally of its view that following countries merit sympathetic consideration for two major posts: for Security Council, Colombia; for Economic and Social Council, Uruguay.

Above views are communicated for FoMin for his information. Dept not making any firm commitment at this time and considers desirable continue discussion this subject among delegations in NYC before final decision.

For Embs info Dept does not wish encourage further discussion of candidacies through you at this time, but would of course be glad know any views FoMin may volunteer. This instruction prompted by evidence that some AmReps actively campaigning for support now.¹³ Dept wishes its tentative views known before further commitments are made by other govts.

Mexico and Venezuela known to be soliciting support for ECOSOC. Dept prefers Uruguay because of high qualifications including East Coast location since Cuba, Colombia, Peru and Chile now on ECOSOC.¹⁴

Acheson

12. The date for the convening of the General Assembly had been postponed from September 23 to October 23. This, a second postponement, was necessitated by the slow progress of the Paris Peace Conference. For United States Delegation Minutes of those meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers at the Paris Peace Conference dealing with the postponement question, see vol. iii, pp. 313–321, 364–370, 383–390, and 398–404, passim.
13. Venezuela had made several overtures to the United States as early as January 22 and as recently as September 26 (IO Files, United States Delegation Briefing Book entitled “Elections of Members of Security Council, Economic and Social Council and Trusteeship Council [1946, New York]”).
14. Replies to this circular are found in the Briefing Rook named above. In general these expressed cooperative interest while at the same time pointing out that Venezuela, Argentina, and Mexico were actively interested in their own candidacies.