288. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State1
New York, December
13, 1963, 8:30 p.m.
2496. Enlargement of Councils.
- 1.
- After hectic all-day palaver, ASAFs tonight introduced and decided to press to vote reses for 15 seat SC (majority of 9, non-perm seats distributed as follows; 5 ASAF, 2 LA, 2 Eur and others, 1 EE) and 27 seat ECO–SOC (8 of 9 additional seats to go to ASAF’s with other additional seat to rotate between LAs and EURs). It appears there blocking third made up of LAs, Eurs, and EEs, on both ASAF reses but we suspect some of these negative votes may cave under ASAF pressure. Czechs and Poles also introduced amendments to ASAF res in Gen Comite for rotation of GA Presidency. Our vote count shows defeat this amendment small margin but again we fear bandwagon psychology.
- 2.
- SC: LAs and WEs remained firm for 13 seat SC and against 15 seat SC, although Italy (because of fear of ASAF retaliation) and Netherlands (because they believe 15 is better number) wobbly. We fear there may be bolt. Decision if ASAFs press vote on 15 seat SC res taken against judgment majority Asian countries, according Kaya (Japan), and most Asians therefore refrained from cosponsoring res as they do not favor pressing it to vote against clear opposition of perm sc members.
- 3.
- ECOSOC: ASAFs did not pick up offer made to them by LAs in morning to vote for their res provided LAs specifically assigned 4–1/2 seats in new Council plus 2 comite chairmanships in General Comite. Instead ASAFs appeared, again on African impetus, ready to press their res to vote without agreements other groups.
- 4.
- Gen Comite: Czech amendment provides for rotating GA Presidency as follows: Africa, Asia, EE, LA, ME, WE and others. ASAF meeting decided to ask sponsors to replace ME category and rotate that place between Africa and Asia. Sponsors reportedly agreed. ASAFs did not take group position on amendment but only Liberia and Cameroon spoke against rotation concept. LAs almost equally divided between negative vote and abstentions. Third amendment to ASAF res may be submitted by LAs calling for one more VP, to be LA, and removing, at Venezuelan request, according Bueno (Brazil) words “and Caribbean states” from LA category named in ASAF res. Starey (Australia) feels Canadian, NZ, and Australian amendment to Gen Comite might be withdrawn as it has called attention to Commonwealth problem and good effect might be lost if it were voted down. 5. On possibility that ASAFs may withdraw their SC and ECOSOC reses before Plenary if blocking third demonstrated in SPC, we plan speak against their draft reses as well as against GA Presidency rotation amendment at 10:30 SPC mtg Dec 14.
- 6.
- Sovs had speech prepared ready to give at Dec 13 afternoon session refuting ChiCom attack on Federenko statement.
Stevenson
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, UN 8 SC. Confidential; Priority.↩