Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXV, Organization of Foreign Policy; Information Policy; United Nations; Scientific Matters

289. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Ball to President Johnson¹

Washington, December 13, 1963.

SUBJECT

• The Current Session of the United Nations General Assembly

You will be meeting with a number of Delegation heads on Tuesday at the United Nations. The following information may be helpful to you in your discussions.

In general, the current 18th Session of the General Assembly has achieved results quite satisfactory to the United States. The high-lights are:

1. Organizational:

a. A friendly Latin American (Sosa-Rodriguez of Venezuela) was elected President.

b. Bolivia and the Ivory Coast, whom we supported, were elected to full terms on the Security Council. We also supported Malaysia but it finally had to decide to split the two-year term with Czechoslovakia.

2. On Disarmament:

a. The partial test ban treaty and the direct line between Moscow and Washington were endorsed;

b. A historic resolution calling on all States not to station or place in outer space any objects carrying nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction was approved by acclamation; and

c. A resolution on a Latin American nuclear free zone was adopted consonant with our interests since it left the matter to members of the region for further study.

3. Outer Space:

The Assembly called for expanded and strengthened cooperation in the exploration of Outer Space and defined legal principles that should govern our astronauts and the traffic of our space vehicles.

4. On East-West Issues:

a. The U.S. position in favor of unified Korean independence on the basis of free elections was again maintained by virtually the same vote as last year; and

b. Our position on Chinese representation was again sustained, this time by a slightly wider margin than the previous Assembly.

5. Colonial Issues:

Even though we could not support two African resolutions on Southern Rhodesia appealing against transfer of powers to the white minority groups, and a resolution on South West Africa calling for an oil embargo against South Africa, the results on colonial issues were better than expected.

The Security Council met twice during the General Assembly and adopted resolutions which did not go beyond our arms embargo policies in relation to South Africa and Portugal, and avoided mandatory sanctions and proposals for expulsion from the United Nations. Both resolutions were relatively moderate and designed to stimulate a dialogue between the respective parties.

6. Racial Discrimination:

After a difficult negotiation, we were able to support the universal Declaration Against all Forms of Racial Discrimination, making clear our intention to carry out its terms in accordance with our constitutional processes.

7. Peacekeeping Operations:

The Assembly carried forward the peacekeeping operations in the Congo and the Middle East based on a financial formula in which the U.S. contribution is only 37 percent.

Suggested Points To Make:

During the reception, there will be opportunity only for simple greetings. However, at the luncheon you will have an opportunity to discuss with the Secretary General, the Soviet Representative to the UN (Federenko) and other key Delegates some of the principal issues and problems facing the United Nations. While Ambassador Stevenson intends to take up a number of these matters with you in more detail, we would suggest the following points might be made:

1. Strong Peacekeeping Capacity.

You might indicate our continuing strong support for the United Nations and in particular that its peacekeeping capacity should be strengthened. We do not believe in a United Nations limited to a debating society. Its utility depends on its capacity to act effectively in peace and security crises.

2. Need to Solve the Financial Problem.

The USSR must find a way to pay its UN arrearages, otherwise the United States will have no alternative but to press for a denial of vote to the Soviet Union when this matter arises in 1964. (This point can be made generally and in particular to the USSR. To the French Delegate [Seydoux],² you might “express the hope” that France will find a way in the near future to pay its own back UN bills.)

3. Disarmament: We will press for further agreements at Geneva.

The Assembly this past fall has given a shot in the arm to future disarmament discussions. It has referred these matters to the Geneva Conference where the United States will continue to press for further agreement.

4. Moderation on Colonial Issues:

On Colonial issues, we are confronted with the remaining hard-core white settler problems in southern Africa. The United States will continue its efforts on the side of moderation and peaceful change. This can be achieved best by quiet talks rather than playing the gallery.

5. Yemen:

We hope the Secretary General will keep his representative (Spinelli) in Yemen next year to help work out a solution of the problem.

George W. Ball³

1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1960–63, UN 3 GA. Confidential. Drafted by Sisco on December 12. An attached memorandum from Cleveland, also December 12, recommended that Acting Secretary Ball sign the memorandum to the President. Ball approved it on December 13.
2. Brackets in the source text.
3. Printed from a copy that indicates Ball signed the original.