Office of the Historian

163. Memorandum of Conversation1

Washington, February 27, 1961.

SUBJECT

  • Candidacy of Ali Sastroamidjojo for Presidency of the 16th General Assembly

PARTICPANTS

  • Mr. Nugroho, Charge d’Affaires ad interim, Indonesian Embassy
  • FE:SPA—Mr. James D. Bell
  • FE:SPA—Mr. Robert S. Lindquist

Mr. Nugroho presented a Note in which the Government of Indonesia proposes Dr. Ali Sastroamidjojo as candidate for the presidency of the 16th General Assembly The Note states that the support of the United States would be deeply appreciated.2

Mr. Nugroho said that Ali’s candidacy is partially an outgrowth of a previous Indonesian withdrawal in favor of Mexico in connection with the Disarmament Commission, and what he believes to have to have been at that time an understanding that this future candidacy of Dr. Ali’s would receive certain Latin American support. He said also that the backing of the Arab states for Ali’s candidacy may be affected by Mongi Slim’s possible candidacy but nevertheless Indonesia is seeking Arab support. Mr. Nugroho believes that substantial Afro-Asian support can be lined up for Ali.

  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, 320/2–2761. Confidential. Drafted by Lindquist on February 28.↩
  2. Text of the February 15 note is Enclosure No. 1 to despatch 866 from USUN, February 20. (Ibid., 320/2–2061) The Indonesian Government formally confirmed Sastroamidjojo’s candidacy for President of the General Assembly on June 5. (Note from the Indonesian Representative to the United Nations, June 5, Enclosure No. 1 to despatch 1336 from USUN, June 23; ibid., 320/6–2361)↩