320/9–3054: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Lodge) to the Department of State
priority
Delga 40. London for Secretary from Lodge. Re non-member participation in UN. We have had exploratory talks with number of key delegations regarding our proposal on non-member participation in the United Nations (Gadel 1, September 21). Returns thus far are not decisive either way.1
In discussing matter with Senator Fulbright and staff, Senator Fulbright suggested, and I agree, that we should couple our non-member participation proposal with a General Assembly declaration or expression of opinion that membership should not be subject to the veto and that charter be revised to this effect.
I am aware of the relation between this proposal to our position that the seating of the Chinese Communists is subject to the veto. However, [Page 1030] I believe we can make a plausible distinction between admission new members on the one hand and seating of the Chinese Communists on the other.
I believe that joining this element to our non-member participation proposal would materially affect attitude of qualified non-member states and persuade them of the advantages of non-member participation; one of the most common reactions from these countries has been fear that non-member participation is end of line for them. A positive stand by us to remove veto from membership would indicate firm US commitment to do everything possible to bring about admission of qualified applicants.
I believe such a proposal would be favored by the American people. This is confirmed by the grass root soundings taken by the Wiley subcommittee on charter review. This would also be in line with the Vandenberg resolution of 1948.
Request urgently your views on this matter.
- Certain memoranda of conversations regarding these talks in New York are in UNP files, lot 59 D 237, “Memberships”; none printed.↩