Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, General; the United Nations, Volume I, Part 1

501.BB/8–2448: Telegram

The Ambassador in Belgium (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

secret

Brussels, August 24, 1948—6 p. m.

1623. Department’s infotel, 17 August, 3 a. m.¹ In course conversation other matters, Bech says he hopes GA will elect this time in Paris a president who will be European, Thinks repetition a South American inappropriate and is also unfavorable to Middle East or Oriental. … Evatt … needed at home in Australia. His field narrows down to France which he thinks particularly suitable in reference long session in Paris, prestige for French, larger power now needed in chair. He extols qualities of Schuman who would make ideal president.²

As for Luxembourger, reasoning contained in mytel 1622, August 24³ negatives idea.

Sent Department 1628 [1623], repeated Paris 156.

Kirk

1. Not printed.
2. Marginal notation: “Acted upon by tel — to Paris 8/25”. This refers presumably to Department’s telegram 3306, August 25, to Paris, infra.
3. Not printed.