IO Files: US(P)/A/2
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Walter Washington of the Advisory Staff of the United States Delegation
| Participants: | Joaquin Fernandez, Chilean Ambassador |
| Mr. John Foster Dulles, United States Delegation | |
| Dr. Frank P. Corrigan, United States Delegation |
Ambassador Fernandez stated that he had come to see Secretary Marshall. He was, however, glad to transmit his message to Mr. Dulles in the absence of the Secretary. He stated that he represented the Latin American Delegation who, this morning, had a two hour session together.
The caucus decided that the participants would support a French candidate for the presidency of the Assembly if one were put forward by the French Delegation. Lacking a French candidate they would support Señor Bramuglia of Argentina. The latter decision was made after Señor Bramuglia had said that he thought it would be better not to have a Latin American president, but the Brazilian Foreign Minister, Fernandes, made a strong speech in which he advocated the candidacy of Bramuglia, and this resulted in the aforementioned decision.
If Señor Bramuglia’s candidacy does not seem to be succeeding, the Latin American countries, in the interest of harmony, will vote for Mr. Evatt of Australia . . . .
A committee composed of the representatives of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Cuba was formed to consult the other Delegates to the Assembly. The Chilean was commissioned to inform the United States Delegation and the French Delegation of the results of the caucus. The Argentina representative will talk to the Arabs. There will be a meeting of this committee at 6:30 this evening in the room of Señor Bramuglia at the Hotel Prince of Wales. Afterwards there will be a plenary meeting of the Latin American Delegates.
[Page 136]Mr. Dulles told Señor Fernandez that the United States, although it does not oppose any Latin American candidate from a personal point of view, feels it would be better if someone other than a Latin American were elected president of this Assembly. He stated that the United States Delegation would vote for Mr. Evatt of Australia.
Señor Fernandez then went on to say that the Chilean Chancellory would like to have United States support in obtaining one of the following posts in order of preference:
- 1.
- Membership in the Economic & Social Council
- 2.
- A Vice Presidency
- 3.
- Membership in the Security Council.