Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, United Nations and General International Matters, Volume XI

58. Telegram From the Mission at the United Nations to the Department of State¹

New York, December 27, 1956—5 p.m.

Delga 405. Re SC enlargement (Delga 386, Gadel 76²).

1. Postponement SC enlargement raises possibility new factors may appear in second half GA session. Specifically, there could be move to amend LA resolution to raise size of increase, probably to 3.

2. Our thinking so far has been directed to choice between decision on increase of 2 or increase of 3 or 4, rather than choice between no decision and 3 or 4. Department may now wish to consider whether we would prefer no decision on increase question at this session, establishment some type committee as recommended in Afro-Asian resolution, or increase to 3 or 4.

3. Re possibility ensuring fourth seat to LA (Gadel 76) we are inclined to think that this could be accomplished, if Afro-Asians were willing to support increase of 4 in principle. We do not feel free to make any inquiries under present instructions, however, as any talk by us indicating possibility moving to larger figure at this time would encourage tendencies this direction.

4. Informal analysis various factors and tactical situation being pouched Pedersen–Sisco.

Wadsworth

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 330/12–2756. Confidential.
2. Delga 386 is printed as Document 56. Gadel 76 to New York, December 20, confirmed an earlier conversation apparently by telephone between Senator Humphrey and Wilcox in which the Department (1) emphasized its strong preference to keep the proposed increase in Security Council membership to two; (2) concurred in the “tactics” to give priority in voting to the Afro-Asian resolution in order to defeat it; (3) urged that if the amendment to the Latin American resolution calling for a Security Council increase from two to three should come to a vote, the delegation seek to defeat it; and (4) recommended that should the delegation doubt that such an amendment would be defeated, call for a 24-hour delay to give the Department and delegation an opportunity to assess whether an increase of three in Security Council membership was more or less advantageous than four. (Department of State, Central Files, 310/12-2056)