Office of the Historian

IO Files

United States Delegation Plenary Position Paper

confidential
US/A/3407
[Paris,] December 5, 1951.

Question of the Full Participation of Italy in the Work of the Trusteeship Council: Report of the Fourth Committee (A/1990)

1. united states position

The United States should vote in favor of the resolution recommended by the Fourth Committee which (a) notes that Italy has been charged by the UN with the administration of the Trust Territory of Somaliland; (b) considers that Italy should be enabled to exercise those responsibilities with complete effectiveness; (c) expresses the opinion that it is necessary, therefore, for Italy to become a member of the Trusteeship Council and for that purpose to be admitted to the UN and takes account of the fact that Italy satisfies Charter requirements for membership; and (d) recommends that the Security Council give urgent consideration to this resolution with a view to recommending the immediate admission of Italy to the UN.

The President, in accordance with rule 67, will ask the Assembly whether there should be plenary discussion of the Fourth Committee report; the United States should vote against plenary discussion.

[Page 402]

2. history in committee

The above resolution was introduced by France. An amendment, proposed by Guatemala, adding the consideration that Italy satisfies Charter requirements for membership, was accepted by the sponsor. The amended resolution was adopted by 50 votes to 5, with 0 abstentions. Prior to the vote on this resolution, a draft resolution, introduced by Poland, was rejected by 48 votes to 5, with 1 abstention. Under the Polish resolution the Fourth Committee would have decided not to vote on the French resolution on the ground that the question of recommending the admission of Italy to the UN was outside the Committee’s competence.

3. possible developments in plenary

Since the delegations primarily interested in this item have indicated that they do not desire debate of the Fourth Committee report, it is likely that there will be no debate. It is probable, however, that the Soviet delegations, in explanations of vote, will vigorously oppose the resolution on the grounds that (a) it discriminates against other (Soviet) applicants for membership; and (b) it is illegal on the ground that the Fourth Committee was not competent to deal with the membership issue. Depending upon the nature of the Soviet remarks, it may be desirable for the United States, also on an explanation of vote, to make a short statement.1

  1. The resolution recommended by the Fourth Committee was adopted by the General Assembly in a plenary meeting on December 7 (54–5–1). For the proceedings in the General Assembly, see United Nations, Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixth Session, Plenary Meetings, pp. 220 ff. No statement was made by the United States Representative. There is a text of a comprehensive draft statement prepared for the use of the United States Representative; in the event of a number of contingencies, in the UNP Files, Lot 59 D 237, “Italian Membership”.

    For the legislative history of this matter, see GA (VI), Annexes, fascicule for agenda item 55.

    ↩