UNP Files, Lot 59 D 237, “Membership General IV (Beg. 1951)”
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of United Nations Political and Security Affairs (Wainhouse) to the Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Hickerson)
Subject: Greek Candidacy for Security Council and Membership Question
You may wish to take up the following points, particularly the first, in your conversations with USUN.1
1. Greek Candidacy
On July 20, we sent a cable to USUN which stated that the Department did not favor the election of a satellite to the Eastern European seat now held by Yugoslavia, We also stated that the Department presently favored the election of Greece provided it could obtain sufficient support from other Members. We requested that the Mission, without indicating a firm US position, ascertain the views of the UK, France, Canada, Brazil and the Philippines on the Greek candidacy. The Mission has now reported the views of the UK in favor of a satellite. We [Page 335] believe that the Mission should state to the British that we are opposed to a Soviet satellite but are still examining the question of the Greek candidacy. Furthermore, in order to stave off a movement for a satellite, the Mission should talk to the other delegations mentioned in the telegram as soon as possible.
Regarding the Greek candidacy for election to the Security Council, see pp. 78 ff.
2. Membership
Your memorandum to Ambassador Austin, dated July 19, 1951, a copy of which is attached, requested that USUN have preliminary consultations with the UK, France and Canada concerning possible approaches to the membership question and related matters. The Mission has reported to the Department the views of Jebb; we understand that Lacoste asked that the question be reserved for later discussion. To our knowledge, the Mission has had no discussion with the Canadians on the matter. We are therefore uncertain whether we have received the definitive views of any of the Governments with which we wished to consult. If Jebb’s statements do reflect his Government’s considered position, we have in any case yet to hear from Canada and France. Before further steps are taken, the Mission should complete its discussions with the French and Canadian delegations and give the Department a complete report.
- Hickerson was in New York on August 22. In a “chit” dated September 10, he informed Wainhouse that he had discussed the subjects herein with Ambassador Austin, Ambassador Gross, and the Deputy United States Representative on the Security Council (Ross), “along the lines set forth.” The “chit” was attached to this memorandum.↩