IO Files: US/A/C.1/610
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Bernard Bechhoefer of the United States Delegation Staff of Advisers
| Participants: | Mr. John Foster Dulles, United States Delegation |
| Sir Hartley Shawcross, United Kingdom Delegation | |
| Sir Alexander Cadogan, United Kingdom Delegation | |
| Mr. R. L. Harry, Australian Delegation | |
| Mr. E. N. Thompson, United States Delegation | |
| Mr. Charles Noyes, United States Delegation | |
| Mr. Bernard Bechhoefer, United States Delegation |
After the adjournment of the afternoon meeting of Committee I on November 17 which commenced consideration of the subject of the veto,1 a long discussion took place with the above participants, the most important features of which were as follows.
Mr. Shawcross informed Mr. Dulles that the United Kingdom Delegation contemplated introducing a resolution calling for consultation of the permanent Members in an effort to secure agreement on problems in connection with the Security Council voting procedure. Mr. Shawcross expressed the view that a resolution to refer the matter to the Interim Committee would be bitterly opposed by the U.S.S.R. and would be an added cause of friction. Since, according to his view, nothing could be accomplished without the agreement of the U.S.S.R. such a resolution would merely lessen the possibilities of securing agreement and would delay, rather than hasten, any solution of the problem. Mr. Shawcross further believed that any possibility of U.S.S.R. participation in the Interim Committee would be eliminated as a result of reference of the veto to that Committee. His resolution would express regret at the frequent exercise of the veto, would call attention to responsibilities of the permanent Members as set forth in the previous General Assembly resolution, and would invite the permanent Members to attempt to secure agreement in order to improve the operations of the Security Council.
Mr. Dulles suggested that the study in the Interim Committee might create pressure on the U.S.S.R. which would lead to U.S.S.R. agreement on some constructive proposals in the Committee of Experts or at the least would result in greater moderation on the part of the U.S.S.R. in using the veto. He pointed out that for a period of six months after the previous General Assembly resolution, which the U.S.S.R. had strongly opposed, there was only one veto. Mr. Harry stated that Mr. Evatt would support reference of the [Page 228] matter to the Interim Committee provided that the resolution indicated the desire of the General Assembly for the elimination of the veto under Chapter VI and in connection with applications for membership as suggested in the speech of the Secretary of State on September 17.
Mr. Shawcross agreed to show the United States Delegation in advance any resolution which the United Kingdom intended to submit on this subject.
- There was only a cursory discussion (GA (II), First Committee, pp. 482–484).↩