Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The United Nations; The Western Hemisphere, Volume II

501/2–749

The Secretary of State to the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Rayburn)

Washington, February 7, 1949.

My Dear Mr. Speaker: I am transmitting herewith a draft¹ of a proposed bill to amend the United Nations Participation Act of 1945² which the Department recommends be enacted into law.

The proposed amendments to the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 have two purposes. Those amendments which modify existing provisions of the Participation Act are designed to provide greater flexibility in the United States representation in the Security Council, and additional assistance for our principal representative to the United Nations. The nature and increased volume of work of the United States Mission to the United Nations and the consequent demands of the time and energy of the United States Representative made necessary the proposed amendments. Specifically, the principal proposed amendments provide:

1. For the creation of a new position, that of Deputy United States Representative to the United Nations. The Representative and Deputy Representative to the United Nations shall be our number 1 and 2 representatives in the Security Council, and these two representatives may serve ex officio as United States Representative on any organ, commission, or other body of the United Nations.

2. That the salary of the Representative and Deputy Representative to the United Nations shall correspond to the rates paid to the Chiefs of Mission, Class I and II, respectively, as provided in the Foreign Service Act.

3. For the appointment by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, of an additional Deputy Representative in the Security Council. The President is authorized to designate any departmental officer of the Department of State whose appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate, to serve temporarily in the Security Council in the case of absence or disability of the Representative and Deputy Representatives, or in lieu of such Representatives in connection with a specified subject matter.

4. Section 7 is renumbered Section 8 and is amended to clarify the existing language and to bring it into accord with related legislation governing the use of the appropriations.

The proposed legislation also adds a new Section 7 which would recognize the authority of the President to authorize the detail to the United Nations of personnel of the armed forces of the United States for non-combatant purposes, and the furnishing by the National Military Establishment of equipment and assistance in connection with official activities of the United Nations. This provision is necessary to clarify and supplement existing authority for participation by the United States in carrying out United Nations policies, such as the implementation and enforcement of the truce in Palestine, the activities of the Balkan, Korean and Kashmir Commissions, and similar activities essential to the settlement of international disputes and the fulfillment of the purposes of the United Nations.

A similar communication is being sent to the President of the Senate.

The Department has been informed by the Bureau of the Budget that there is no objection to the presentation of this proposal to the Congress for its consideration.³

Sincerely yours,

Dean Acheson

1. Not printed.
2. Approved December 20, 1945, 59 Stat. 619.
3. On February 25 Sen. Tom Connally, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced S. 1073 which was referred to committee, and on March 1 Rep. Sol Bloom, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, introduced H.R. 3085 which was also referred to committee.