IO Files
Minutes of Seventeenth Meeting of the United States Delegation to the General Assembly, Paris, November 23, 1951
US/A/M(Chr)/204
[Here follows list of persons (47) present.]
Ambassador Austin asked that immediate consideration be given to the Yugoslav item so that the Delegation could deal also with other urgent business.
Mr. Stein explained the revised Yugoslav draft resolution contained in an unnumbered document before the Delegation. It represented, he said, a redraft of the draft resolution considered by the Delegation at the last meeting. Its terms had been generally agreed to by Senator Cooper, Sir Gladwyn Jebb and Ordonneau in a meeting with Bebler of Yugoslavia. The resolution incorporated a number of suggestions by the US including our suggestion that the recommendations be directed toward all parties concerned and not just to the Soviets and satellites.
Mr. Stein explained further that pursuant to a suggestion by Ambassador Gross,1 we had raised with the Yugoslavs the possibility of including in the resolution a paragraph envisaging the use of the POC Balkan Sub-committee in connection with this case, if the tension does not subside. The precise language suggested to Bebler was before the Delegation in a paper entitled “Possible Addition to the Yugoslav Draft Resolution”. This would have the Governments concerned, “if the international tension in the area does not subside”, request the Sub-committee of the POC to arrange for “observation and reporting on the situation along the frontiers between Yugoslavia on the one hand and Hungary, Bulgaria, Rumania, and Albania on the other.” Mr. Stein reported that Bebler had not been enthusiastic about this suggestion, but had agreed to take it up with M. Kardelj and report his decision promptly. Mr. Stein noted that it had been pointed out to Bebler that if the Yugoslavs wished the UN to take cognizance of this case, it would be fitting and proper that UN procedures available for handling such cases be utilized. Bebler had remarked that this seemed very logical, but he doubted at the same time whether it was politically advisable. Senator Cooper added that Bebler had indicated that although they might not wish to incorporate this language in the Yugoslav draft resolution, they might be able to accept it if it were offered as an amendment by some other delegation. Referring to a telegram from the Department (Gadel 216), Mr. Stein noted [Page 516] that the approach the Delegation had been taking was strictly in accordance with the Department’s views. Mr. Stein added that Senator Cooper would make a tough speech in Committee, in the course of which he would make clear the US position on this matter. Senator Cooper said he had little to add to Mr. Stein’s presentation, except that some members of the Assembly might conceivably have difficulty in taking sides in the controversy between the Yugoslavs and the satellites.
[Here follows further discussion with the Delegation having no objection to the revisions or amendments proposed herein.
The Delegation then proceeded to discuss another agenda item.]
- Ernest A. Gross, Deputy United States Representative to the United Nations and member of the United States Delegation to the General Assembly.↩