330/7–153: Telegram
The Ambassador in India (Allen) to the Department of State
3. R. K. Nehru handed me aide-mémoire yesterday inviting US Government attention to fact that if New Zealand succeeds Pakistan on United Nations SC at next election, Lebanon will be only Asiatic [Page 471] country left on SC except Formosa which “can hardly be said to represent any country but itself”. Aide-mémoire states that at moment when Asia’s problems are of high importance Asia would have practically no representative on SC, that burden of expressing Asian viewpoint has often fallen on India, and that if one seat on SC goes to Commonwealth countries by rotation, India would be member only once in 14 years. India does not wish to contest seat unless she has concurrence of important powers and is approaching US and UK in hope that some way would be found to remedy matter of Asiatic representation.
I said situation would naturally be easier for us if Commonwealth reached agreement. R. K. said GOI expected UK to support New Zealand but did not know what attitude Canada would take.
Comment: Apart from reasoning in aide-mémoire. I am impressed by case for Indian membership and hope we can find basis for supporting it. In fact, good case could be made for permanent seat for India. Re-election after 2 year absence would be middle ground, giving India status in practice of semi-permanent seat but without veto. There can be no question that India has very considerable influence among Asiatic nations and has in fact often carried role of spokesman. India’s role in Korean armistice is evidence of responsible position India has assumed in international affairs.
Moreover, I believe, there is still validity in original UN concept of permanent representatives for major powers. Re-examination of permanent representatives will come up in charter revision discussion of 1956, when India will doubtless make strong plea for permanent seat. Semi-permanent status seems justified and might prove good compromise. Moreover, pressure for replacement of Nationalist China by Peking regime rests largely on claim that Peking represents 400 million people. If Lebanon and Formosa remained only SC representative of half population of world, Peking’s claim would be given additional color. If India is assured election to SO, less case can be made that Asiatic peoples will not be adequately represented in UN.
I suspect Commonwealth may try to obtain Latin American seat for India.
Text of aide-mémoire being pouched.