Office of the Historian

320/7–2254: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Mission at the United Nations1

confidential
Washington, July 23, 1954—8:23 p.m.

61. Re presidency Ninth GA. Appreciate your suggestions Paragraph 1 urtel 70 for additional arguments to be made to Dutch.

If Dutch should indicate to us Van Kleffens would desire chairmanship Committee One for 9th Session we agree we should assure them our support. However Dept does not believe we should initiate this suggestion for a consolation prize which rather than assuage might only exacerbate Dutch resentment.

Our present difficulty re Presidency and past experience with slates problem generally confirms desirability avoiding commitment for UN offices as far ahead as suggested urtel. This involves more than bureaucratic procedure. We cannot possibly foresee situation one and two years from now when overriding considerations may dwarf what at this moment appears controlling factor. Commitment to Van Kleffens might well antagonize Latin Americans particularly since no commitment re Charter Review Conference can be made now and date of such conference not certain.

Dulles

  1. Drafted by the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for UN Affairs (Wainhouse), assisted by Eric Stein of the Office of UN Political and Security Affairs; cleared with Allen of EUR (in draft) and Bacon of FE; cleared also with the Deputy Under Secretary of State (Murphy); signed by Wainhouse.

    Sent also as telegram 122 to The Hague for information.

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