Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume IX, Foreign Economic Policy

180. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations⁰

Washington, March 17, 1961, 8:24 p.m.

1742. Your 2304.¹ Subject: UN Capital Development Fund.

1. In light of information furnished by USUN and after full consideration of issues with Klutznick, Dept is prepared have you inform Boland² that he may include US among countries which he feels desirable participate Preparatory Committee and that US prefers to have him name these countries in plenary and ask governments concerned communicate to SYG within reasonable period (2 to 3 weeks) whether they are prepared to serve.

2. Dept favors this procedure because (a) it will make it unnecessary for US to make any statement at time announcement is made (b) it will permit consultations with friendly powers, particularly UK and Canada, to arrive at a common position regarding participation and (c) it will enable us by way of a formal communication to indicate clearly the basis on which we accept membership.

3. In discussions with other Dels you may indicate that in considering whether US would be prepared to serve on Committee US Govt will wish consider how useful Committee might be in affording sponsors and proponents of resolution opportunity express their views and objectives in more detail to US and other countries which had opposed or abstained on resolution and at same time afford US and latter group of countries opportunity to have their views better known and understood by proponents.

4. Communication to be prepared in Department will make it abundantly clear that US accepts membership only on clear understanding that it remains firmly opposed to establishment of a UN Capital Development Fund, that it would not feel committed in any way to contribute to such a Fund if established, and that it believes there should be a further exchange of views in Committee to see whether at this time drafting of statutes would in fact be a useful step to advance economic development of less developed countries.

5. This message being sent for info to selected missions in event questions raised their capitals.

6. Advise Dept any reactions received from Boland, UN Secretariat and other Dels.³

Rusk

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 398.051/3-1761. Confidential. Drafted by Plakias and Walter M. Kotschnig (IO/OES) on March 17, cleared by Martin and David Wilken (E), Secretary of the Treasury Dillon, and Virginia Westfall (IO/OIA) in draft, and approved by Cleveland. Repeated to Brussels, Canberra, Copenhagen, The Hague, London, Ottawa, Paris, Pretoria, Rome, Stockholm, and Tokyo.
1. Dated February 28. (Ibid., 320/2-2861)
2. Frederick H. Boland (Ireland), President of the Third Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly, August 21-25, 1961.
3. Telegram 2563 from USUN, March 21, replied that USUN had disclosed the U.S. position to the other concerned delegations, Boland, and the U.N. Deputy Under Secretary and had received no new reactions and foresaw no problems. (Department of State, Central Files, 398.051/3-2161)