Office of the Historian

340.1 AG/2–2053

Memorandum by the Secretary of State1

[Washington,] February 20, 1953.

The question of change of policy in relation to the Human Rights Convention was discussed with the President in Cabinet today and met with general approval.2

J[ohn] F[oster] D[ulles]
  1. Addressed to the Legal Adviser (Phleger), the Assistant Secretary of State for UN Affairs (Hickerson), and the UN Representative on the Commission on Human Rights (Mrs. Lord).↩
  2. Discussion of human rights at the Cabinet meeting on Feb. 20, 1953 occurred within the context of a discussion on the Bricker Amendment. The following exchange occurred: “The Vice President suggested that support for the amendment developed considerably from opposition to the UN Genocide Convention. Mr. Dulles reported a change in United States policy in regard to the Convention which can be helpful in combating the Bricker Amendment.” (Minutes of Cabinet Meeting, Feb. 20, 1953, 10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; see extract of the whole discussion on the Bricker Amendment in volume i; Eisenhower Library, Eisenhower papers.)↩