310.2/12–2751
The Ambassador in Italy (Dunn) to the Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Hickerson)1
Dear Jack: Tommy Thompson has just returned from Paris and has informed me of the status of the discussions on Italian membership. [Page 420] You will be familiar with the matter on the basis of the telegrams sent by the delegation in Paris and also, I understand, from consultations with Ernest Gross.
It appears that the Russians have given us a good opportunity to secure the membership of Italy and a number of other friendly states, if we allow the Russian resolution to be adopted by the Security Council through our abstention. By explaining our abstention after the vote is taken, we could prepare the way for our active opposition to the satellite candidates in the General Assembly.
I am of course unable to judge what the possibilities are of defeating the satellite candidates in the General Assembly and personally would not want to advocate any procedure which would give them membership. I should think that a requisite number of votes to defeat them could be obtained without too much difficulty, but you and the delegation in Paris would have to be the judge of this.
The purpose of this letter is to underscore what great importance the Italian Government attaches to UN membership and to emphasize the political importance which this subject has in Italy. Now that this opportunity has arisen, the Italians will be resentful if, through U.S. opposition, no attempt is made to exploit it.
I am sending a copy of this letter to Philip Jessup in Paris who, I understand, will be handling the question in the General Assembly from now on. If there is any way in which the Embassy can be helpful, I hope that either or both of you will let us know.
All best regards,
Sincerely,
- Ambassador Dunn transmitted a copy of this letter to Ambassador Jessup in Paris under cover Of a letter, not printed (USUN Files).↩