Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXIV, Africa

436. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations¹

Washington, November 3, 1965, 2:33 p.m.

1063. SC—Portuguese Territories. USUN’s 1677.²

1. If your efforts bring about resumption dialogue between Portugal and African states are unsuccessful, you have discretion in forthcoming SC meeting either A) make US position clear in debate (without taking public lead but working privately to obtain sufficient abstentions to defeat Res if it contains wholly unacceptable elements), or B) to bring about introduction of resolution reaffirming those provisions of SC resolution of December 11, 1963 which make clear all options remain open in exercise self-determination and calling for renewal talks on that basis.

2. We would very much prefer see discussions resumed, but, if parties unwilling, we see value in making record of US efforts to gain acceptance of reasonable proposal, whether by statement in debate or by resolution as in B) above.

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 10 PORT/UN. Confidential. Drafted by Byrne on November 2; cleared by Director of the Office of UN Political Affairs Elizabeth Ann Brown, Officer in Charge of French-Iberian Affairs Edgar J. Beigel, EUR Regional Planning and United Nations Adviser Edward T. Lampson, Williams, Sisco, and Schwebel; and approved by Ball. Repeated to Lisbon and London.
2. Telegram 1677 from USUN, October 30, reported a conversation the previous day between Goldberg and the U.K. representative on the Security Council, Lord Caradon, on the forthcoming Security Council consideration of Portuguese Africa. (Ibid.)