350/6–1951
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Ward P. Allen, Special Assistant on United Nations Affairs, Bureau of European Affairs
Subject: Possible GA Action to Increase Participation of Non-Members.
Italian Vote in Trusteeship Council.
| Participants: | Mr. Gerald Meade, Counselor, British Embassy |
| Ward P. Allen—EUR |
Since our current working level thinking on this problem had been previously outlined to Mr. Meade in a general way by both Mr. Hickerson and myself, Mr. Meade called to report the initial, informal reaction of the UN Department of the UK Foreign Office. He stated that they did not feel it would be wise at the next Assembly to propose action to give non-members greater participation. They thought it would look as though we were tinkering with the Charter again and thought it would provoke the Russians just as much as any other move in the membership field. Moreover, they doubted that the pending applicants themselves would like this type of “associate membership” and felt it should not be thrust upon them. I thanked Mr. Meade for these comments and stated that our thinking was still only in a tentative stage; that in our further consideration of the matter we would bear in mind this preliminary indication of probable UK views and would undoubtedly wish to consult with them further when our thinking had developed.
I mentioned in passing Italy’s desire to be granted a vote in the Trusteeship Council, reviewing the situation which led up to the Resolution of the Trusteeship Council to place the matter before the GA. I stated that, sympathetic as we were to Italy’s participation in the UN, we saw no way by which she could be granted a vote in the TC short of either full admission or Charter amendment. I added that there nevertheless might well be lengthy debate and impractical proposals on this matter at the next GA. Mr. Meade stated he was confident that the UK would feel as we do and indicated that he would suggest that his Government on any suitable occasions seek to persuade both the Italians and Latin American Delegations in the Assembly to play down the problem.