Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, The United Nations; The Western Hemisphere, Volume II

310.2/7–3150: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin)

secret

Washington, July 31, 1950—8 p. m.

93. I. The basic position of US in consideration of question of Chi representation under agenda submitted by Malik is as follows:¹

(1) US position remains that of opposing seating of Chi Communist regime for reasons previously stated. US has not recognized this regime and only 14 of the 59 Members of UN have done so (not counting Byelorussia and Ukraine).

(2) US considers that question of Chi representation shld not be acted upon at this time and hence opposes inclusion of item on agenda of SC.

(3) It is view of US that those members of SC which have recognized Chi Communist regime shld take into account the attitude taken by that regime to the North Korean attack.

(4) Our position that this question should not be acted upon at this time shld be made known to other Delegations both inside and outside the SC, as shld also our hope that other delegations wld likewise oppose such action at this time.

(5) The departure from our previous position of not influencing other govts applies only to present situation and not to later consideration of question on its merits.

(6) The question of Chinese representation might be considered separately on its merits at a later time. This position shld be clearly and vigorously stated in Council with emphasis on our position that it is entirely inappropriate to consider this question at present time in view of present status of Korean question.

II. In carrying out foregoing policy, every effort shld be made to prevent Soviet Rep from bringing about formal action on the Chi representation question at this time, and to prevent his achieving SC action to unseat Chi Nationalists or to seat the Chi Communist rep by some procedural device. If circumstances develop in which a vote becomes necessary, US shld vote in the negative on any proposal to unseat the Chi Nationalist Rep or to seat rep of the Chi Communist regime. In so voting US shld reiterate the position previously taken that it does not regard a negative vote of any permanent member as a veto since this type of decision can be taken by any seven votes. The Dept’s previous instruction (Deptel 5, Jan 5) is modified to the extent that US shld not under existing circumstances ask for a revote and abstain if Pres rules US negative vote a veto.

III. Dept considers on basis of present info little prospect that seven votes can be obtained in support of proposal to unseat Chi delegate or seat Communist. Therefore, little likelihood problem will arise as to whether US negative vote is a veto. However, if question shld arise, you shld move for adjournment of discussion in order to permit delegates to consult. Discussion cld continue on remainder of agenda.

Acheson

1. It may be concluded from a memorandum written on July 31 by Assistant Secretary Hickerson to the Secretary of State, on the matter of the return of the Soviet Representative to the Security Council, that the generality of the Chinese representation policy set forth here was formulated in a meeting in Mr. Acheson’s office on Friday, July 28. The following passage occurs in the Hickerson memorandum:

   “It is anticipated that the Russian Representative is certain to bring up in some form the question of the seating of the Chinese Representative in the Security Council. In accordance with the agreement reached in your office, the Delegation in New York has been instructed to take a strong position that while the North Korean aggression is in progress, the question of Chinese representation should not be taken up in any form, that any action on this question should be taken separately and later on the merits of the question, and that we oppose vigorously any effort to precipitate action either on the procedure or on the merits.…” (330/7–3150)

   President Truman gave his approval to this course of action in a meeting with Secretary Acheson on July 31, in which Mr. Acheson showed the President the Hickerson memorandum. (Acheson memorandum of July 31, Secretary’s Memoranda, Lot 53 D 444)