120. Notes on the Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, Department of State, Washington, April 16, 1956, 9:15 a.m.1
[Here follow an intelligence briefing and discussion of the Philippines.]
3. Baghdad Pact—Mr. Rountree discussed the three major requests of Mr. Henderson for monetary contribution to the Secretariat, personnel contribution to the Secretariat, and full membership in the Economic Committee. With respect to the first there was discussion of whether the money could come from the Secretary’s confidential fund, the President’s $100 million fund, MSA funds, counterpart money, and also whether there was any problem of legality. With respect to the last point, it was pointed out that the charter permits membership on the Economic Committee of non-member countries. Action: The Secretary approved our making a contribution to the Secretariat and said we should find the money; approved the assignment of personnel to the Secretariat; and approved U.S. participation in the Economic Committee so long as appropriate caveats were made clear that this participation did not affect in any way our decisions on aid programs.
[Here follows discussion of the Hammarskjöld Mission, Palestine refugees, and the Colombian tax on Protestants.]
- Source: Department of State, Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75. Secret. Drafted by Fisher Howe, Director of the Executive Secretariat.↩