340.1 AGB/3–1653: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Mission at the United Nations
priority
345. For Hahn.
- 1.
- Dept informed Attorney General has refused application Ninth Proviso permitting Mrs. Luckock enter US to attend present session Status Comm as Representative WIDF. UN Secretariat will be informed as soon as formal notice received.
- 2.
- If and when issue raised in Status Comm from whatever source,
you are requested make following statement:
“I have communicated with my Govt in Washington and hope to be informed soon with respect to this case. However, I must point out that the question of whether a particular representative of an NGO in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council is to be admitted to this country is a legal question beyond the competence of this or any other Commission of the Economic and Social Council to decide. Further, this Commission cannot decide what position the SYG shall take in representing the UN on a question such as this. Under the Headquarters Agreement, the matter is one for discussion between the SYG and the US authorities. Under these circumstances it would be fruitless and premature for me to engage in any discussion of the issue at this time and place.”
- 3.
- If Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure of Functional Commissions is invoked you should point out that issue does not relate to question whether NGO representatives are authorized to sit as observers at public meetings but whether under Headquarters Agreement a particular representative is to be admitted to US which is a matter beyond the competence of the Commission.
- 4.
- If a resolution is introduced stating it as view of Commission that the presence of a representative of WIDF would be helpful to Commission at its present session you should vote against on grounds that ever since 1948 WIDF has made no constructive contribution to work of Status Commission.
- 5.
- If any other type of resolution is introduced please seek further instructions from Dept.