32. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (Wilcox) to the Deputy Representative at the United Nations (Wadsworth)1
Dear Jerry: I would like to draw your attention to the memorandum of conversation between Miss Salt and Mr. Wainhouse on August 10,2 pouched to USUN on August 13. In this conversation Miss Salt expressed the hope that we would come out rather firmly in favor of an increase of two in the number of non-permanent seats on the Security Council and also take a firm position against enlargement of the Court. The British feel that it is important to hold the line on these matters.
We have noted that since the Latin American countries and Spain submitted agenda items there have been few reports of conversations in New York on the enlargement of UN organs. We assume that this is because other delegations are not interested in discussing the issues now. In any case, we would appreciate your comments on Miss Salt’s approach to us, since I think we are bound to give her a reply.
[Page 114]We agree with Cabot’s view that we should make no commitments at all at this stage on the allocation of seats. We also would like to see the increase limited to two seats. However, we fear that there will be strong pressure from some members for a larger increase and that this pressure is apt to grow. The question is how we can seek at this time to hold the line to two while still leaving some flexibility in our position.
Sincerely yours,