206. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- Chinese Representation in the UN
We introduced the Important Question Resolution at the UN this afternoon with the Belgians and others as co-sponsors.
Efforts to enlist the Italians and Canadians as co-sponsors were unsuccessful. The Italians wanted iron-clad assurances—we did not feel we could give them—that we would not drop the study committee idea if we win the votes on the Important Question and the Albanian resolutions. We are trying to make sure that the order of voting in New York is: first, the Important Question (to require a two-thirds vote for any change in Chinese representation); second, the Albanian Resolution (to substitute Red China for the Republic of China in the UN); and third, the modified Canadian or Italian Resolution (looking toward a study committee). The introduction of our Resolution today makes it likely that it will be the first to be voted on. If the study committee proposal comes up, we might have to go through a second Important Question vote.
Canadian Foreign Minister Martin and Italian Foreign Minister Fanfani met today in Rome to discuss their respective tactics on Chinese representation. Preliminary reports indicate that they did not reach any agreement. The Foreign Minister of the Republic of China is expected to arrive in Washington tomorrow.
Secretary Rusk will address himself to this issue at tomorrow’s luncheon-meeting.2
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Agency File, United Nations, Vol. 5. Secret. A handwritten “L” on the source text indicates that the President saw the memorandum.↩
- According to Johnson’s Daily Diary, he had lunch on November 15 from 2:05 to 3:40 with Rusk, McNamara, Rostow, and Moyers. Chinese representation was one of several issues discussed. (Ibid.) No record of the discussion has been found.↩