310.2/9–754
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Special Assistant on United Nations Affairs, Bureau of European Affairs (Allen)
- Subject:
- Australian GA Item on Admission of Laos and Cambodia
- Participants:
- Mr. James Allen, Australian Embassy
- Mr. Ward P. Allen, EUR
Supplementing Sir Percy Spender’s recent discussion with the Acting Secretary, Mr. Allen gave me the following statement of his Government’s thinking on this matter:
The Australian view is that the first barrier to Communism in area is recognition of autonomy and independence of Laos and Cambodia. There was general agreement on their status at Geneva which Australia hoped could be confirmed by their entry into United Nations. While they are not unduly optimistic as to result of this move it is conceivable that Russians will not wish to veto applications and some move will have been made in general question of admissions. (See section in Secretary-General’s report on this matter.)
[Page 1016]The Australian Government does not wish to open up the whole question of Indo China by placing a new item on the agenda. They will be satisfied to have the question considered with the general item on admission of new members. They do not, however, wish it to be swamped by other items and caught up in a resolution which has no hope of getting anywhere. The resolution attached to explanatory memorandum should be put in at first moment permitted by the rules. The membership item should read—“admission of new members (a) report of good offices committee, (b) admission of Laos and Cambodia.”
When I took him to task for Australia’s failure to consult the US in advance, he confessed that this was the fault of the Embassy here. The Government had sent a long telegram to Paris, London, the Associated States Capitals, etc. which the Embassy here misunderstood as not calling for consultation with us until after French reaction had been received. Apparently External Affairs intended simultaneous consultation. However, by the time French agreement was obtained, it was too late to consult us in advance of submittting the item.