REWS DEPT.
PESEARCH DEPT.
(F.E. SECT.
SOV. SECT. AKER. SECT.)
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CONFIDENTIAL
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Mr. Jtíford
CONFIDENTIAL
Ke 2/4
CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED NATIONS
A
A draft reply to UKMIS New York telegrams numbers 2772
and 2773 is submitted.
2.
United Nations (Political) Department concur.
SALMurgan
(J. A. L. Morgan)
9 November, 1970
Copy to:
UN (Pol.) Department
CONFIDENTIAL
Tel.sent aqued
by Sin S. Tonlish.
M
بلاگ
12.11
い
101
k
From The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
5 November, 1970.
10.8
The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to your letter of 25 October on
Chinese representation in the United Nations, since I am the Minister in
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility for Far Eastern
affairs.
It is true that for many years we have consis- tently voted in the
United Nations for resolutions calling for the occupation of the China
seat by the representative of the People's Republic of China. The
continued exclusion from the United Nations of the representative of
Peking benefits neither the United Nations nor China. As you pointed out
in your letter, if the United Nations is to fulfil properly its role as
an international body in which the views of all nations can be
represented, it is clearly illogical that a country which contains a
quarter of the world's population should in effect have no proper
representa- tion. Sir Alec Douglas-Home said in his speech to the United
Nations on 21 September that the absence of a representative of the
People's Republic of China makes it all the more difficult for the
United Nations to tackle effectively some of the most pressing and
dangerous problems that trouble the world.
At the same time, we believe that any change in the representation of
China, which is a Permanent Member of the Security Council, is an
"Important Question" under Article 18(2) of the United Nations Charter.
I do not think that it can reasonably be denied that this matter is one
of great importance, particularly in view of the deep divisions of
opinion on this issue in the United Nations itself. This
+
5
/explains
Mrs. Sybil Cookson,
Chairman,
Women's International League for Peace
and Freedom
29 Great James Street,
London WC1 N 3ES.
explains why we vote as we do on the procedural issue.
+
Anthony Royle
·
(118281) DA. 391999- 1,300u 2209 Bw.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential,
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
------
In Confidence
DRAFT
Letter
To:-
Type 1 +
From
Mrs. Sybil Cookson,
Chairman,
Women's International League
for Peace and Freedom,
29 Great James Street,
LONDON W.0.1. N 3ES.
Mr. Royle
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to
your letter of 25 October on Chinese representation
in the United Nations, since/I am the Minister in the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility
for Far Eastern affairs.
It is true that før many years we have consis-
tently voted in the United Nations for resolutions
(o cempation of the China Bear by the representative) calling for the
seating of the People's Republic of
China. The continued exclusion from the United
the representative of Peking
Nations of
-country of its sise and population
benefits neither the United Nations nor China. As
you pointed out in your letter, if the United Nations is to
fulfil/properly its role as an international
body in which the views of all nations can be
represented, it is clearly illogical that a country
which contains a quarter of the world's population
in effect have no proper reprometaking should not be gʻamber.. Sir Alec
Douglas-Home said
in his speech to the United Nations on 24 September
a representative of)
that the absence of the People's Republic of China
makes it all the more difficult for the United
Nations to tackle effectively some of the most
pressing and dangerous problems that trouble the
world.
/At the
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
WEDOL 51-7406
At the same time, we believe that any
change in the representation of Chins, which
is a Permanent Member of the Security Council,
is an "Important Question" under Article 18(2)
and
of the United Nations Charter. I do not
think that it can reasonably be denied that
this matter is one of great importance,
particularly in view of the deep divisions
of opinion on this issue in the United Nations
This explains why we vite
**
itself. It is for these reasons that we vote
the procedural issue.
wook year for the resolution defining this
issue as en "Important Question".
Win 14/1
Mr. Jeffərd
Miss, Deas
UNCLASSIFIED
Есери
LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER:
CHINA AND THE UNITED NATIONS
107
I submit a draft reply from Mr. Royle to Mrs. Cookson's
letter of 25 October.
SALMugen
(J. A. L. Morgan)
4 November, 1970
Ки
Copied to:
Mr. Lambert, (U.N.(Pol.) Department)
4/
E
UM For
WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE & FREEDOM
Founded at The Hague in 1915
International Headquarters: Centre International, 1 rue de Varembé, 1201
Geneva 20, Switzerland
Consultative Status B with United Nations, ECOSOC, UNESCO; Special
Consultative Relations with FAO, ILO and UNICEF
BRITISH SECTION
PRESIDENT
CHAIRMAN
HON. SECRETARY
HON. TREASURER
Mrs. Agnes Stapledoa
Mrs. Sybil Cookson
Mr. M. Curwen
Mrs. D. Adams
EDITOR OF
H
*PEACE AND FREEDOM'
++
Mr. Barbara M. Coppock
GENERAL SECRETARY
Ma, J. La Griad
EX-PRESIDENT Dame Kathleen Lonsdale, F.R.S.
VICE-PRESIDENTS :
Miss B. M. Baker
Lady Boyd Orr
Mrs. Joyce Butler, M.P.
Mrs. P. Gusden
Mrs. W. Garnett Mrs. D. Gundry Mrs. B. Ineton
Lady Mayer
Miss C. McAr
Miss Sybil Morrison Mrs. E. de Swiet
Mr. E. Turkie
29, GREAT JAMES STREET, LONDON, W.C.1 N 3ES
Telephone: 01-242 4817
pps.
not relevaul-
Amp
Deer Mr Crime Minister
Oct 25 1970
Fec 2/c гри
Fro
I write on beheld of our League, with reference to the seeting of the
People's Republic of China at the United Nations.
We pray awere that this proposel has been supported by the United
Kingdom delegation over the years. And in the statement we sent to the
British Delegation to the United Nations Assembly
of course we urged them to vote for this. But in the past, our
Delegation hes only supported the proposal to admit the People's
Republic of Chine on a two-thiras me jority,
We ask you to advise the British Delegation to vote for a simple
majority.
In your speech to the United Netions to the General Assemoly, you allude
to the proviens thet veset us. The Secretary-General, U Thant, to whom
you pay tribute, has called for the universellty of the United Nations.
You yourself mention that we have not yet achieved this.
Surely you will agree that the omission of whine, with its 750 million
people, from the counsels of the world, must weeken eny agreement on
Disermement that may be reached ?
It is good that Cenede hes recently recognised the People's Republic of
Chine, and I note that several other states are expected to follow suit,
So we do ask you, to advise our Delegation to vote for the seating of
Chine on a simple me jority vote, and to take the lead in getting other
States to support this motion.
AND
DOH MURWEALTH
- 2 NOV 1970
Yours sincerely,
Suli Cooko
а
نا
Mrs Dybil Cookson cheirmen
ଦ
داع
CONFIDENTIAL
Wilfont
2.F.E. Deft
16
Ес
P.S.KM: Rayle
Life Mlford Sir D. Greenhill
Private Sectory
Sunday
BI-What A.R
will be our
1991037
attitude to Tarian in 19771?
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Ec zlu
CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED NATIONS
The Secretary of State's quation will be barcon cup in the context of
our voting init
the
V.N. in 1971. mAreagad 1/12
Enter apla
BACKGROUND NOTE
NH T6/1.
The debate on Chinese representation is expected to begin
Since there are signs
in the General Assembly on 12 November.
that some countries will change their positions this year, and
there has been speculation about the result of the debate,
this background note has been prepared in consultation with
U.H. (Pol.) Department.
2. The item on the agenda is entitled "Reatoration of the
Lawful Rights of the People's Republic of China in the United
Nations". Since 1961 the pattern has been that two draft
resolutions are debated. These are:-
(a) the American-sponsored "Important Question"
Resolution, which provides for the Assembly to
re-affirm its decision in 1961 that any proposal
to change the representation of China is
important" under Article 18(2) of the Charter
and therefore requires a two-thirda majority;
(b) the substantive "Albanian" Resolution which calls
for the restoration of the "lawful rights" of the
Chinese People's Republic to represent China and
for the expulsion forthwith of the representatives
of the Nationalists.
CONFIDENTIAL
13.
The
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3. The Important Question Resolution itself, which is
procedural, only requires a simple majority. In the past it
hes always passed comfortably (71-48-4 in 1969).
4. The voting on the "Albanian" Resolution has usually been
much closer. Although the Resolution has never attained even
a simple majority, there was a tie in 1965. Last year the
Resolution was rejected, 56-48-21.
-
and probably the last
-
time).
The
5. We are the only country which has consistently voted for
both resolutions (Mauritius voted as we did last year for the
first
This year there are
signs that a number of countries will change their voting in
Peking's favour, The Canadians and Equatorial Guinea have
recently recognised Peking, and Italy will do so today.
Malaysians have stated that they will abstain on the Albanian
Resolution instead of voting against. Other countries, which
are reported to be contemplating changing in Peking's favour,
are Kuwait, Austria, the Central African Republic, Togo,
Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Gabon, Dahomey, Chile, Ireland and
Mauritius, while several Latin-American countries may also
switch. On the other hand, the Cambodians will almost
certainly absent themselves this time. It is still by no
means clear how many of these countries will in the end decide
to change, but the best estimate we can make at present is that,
for the first time, the Albanian Resolution could be carried,
possibly 52-51.
6.
We estimate that the Important Question Resolution is still
likely to secure a comfortable majority this time, so that, even
if the "Albanian" Resolution obtains a simple majority, this
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2
/will
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will not lead to Peking's entry.
But a simple majority on
the Albanian Resolution could have an important effect on
voting next year, particularly as other countries will
probably recognise Peking in the next twelve months. This
will be even more likely if the Chinese maintain their current
somewhat more conciliatory foreign policy. This means that
by 1971 there may well be a pronounced swing in Peking's
favour.
But we
We do not intend to change our vote this year.
have told the Americans that we shall have to take a fresh
look at our vote in 1971. We have also reminded the
Americans that, as Ministers have told them in the past, we
could not support any new proposal which appeared to be simply
a device to prolong Peking's exclusion, For their part,
American officials appear to be taking a much more relaxed
view of the possibility of Chinese entry.
We have reassured
the Americans that there is no question of our changing our
vote without full consultations with them first.
8. Our Mission in New York have been authorised to let other
delegations know that we shall not change our vote this year.
We do not intend to reveal to any country other than the
United States that we shall be looking again at our vote in
1971.
Copies to:
Kr. Lambert (3) Sir S. Tomlinson Miss Deas
Sir L. Monson
Sir P. Adams
1
mitt this agree anscorment of this year's prospects.
CONFIDENTIAL
· 3-
SAL Murgan
(J.A.L. Morgan)
6 November 1970
Km. hiffon
9/4:
DA Greenbill
ท
11/1
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY UK MISSION NEW YORK TELEGRAM NUMBER 2773
104
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE 7 NOVEMBER 1970
CONFIDENTIAL 071735Z
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 2773 OF 7 NOVEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO
PEKING, WASHINGTON, MOSCOW, PARIS, TAMSUI AND HONG KONG.
M.I.P.T.: CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN THE U.N.
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF DRAFT STATEMENT:
THE UK. GOVERNMENT HAS LONG BELIEVED THAT IT IS BOTH RIGHT AND NECESSARY
THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA SHOULD BE SEATED IN
THE UNITED NATIONS REPRESENTING CHINA,
THE PRESENCE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLES
REPUBLIC OF CHINA IS IMPORTANT TO THE UNITED NATIONS. FOR THE WORLD
ORGANISATION TO IGNORE NEARLY A QUARTER OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION IS
ABSURD. WORSE, IT IS DANGEROUS WHEN THE ISOLATED QUARTER IS A MAJOR
WORLD POWER AND A NUCLEAR POWER AT THAT. THE ABSENCE OF CHINA MUST
WEAKEN THE CAPACITY OF THE UNITED NATIONS FOR ACTION, PARTICULARLY IN
ASIA. AS MY SECRETARY OF STATE SAID IN THE GENERAL DEBATE THIS YEAR, THE
ABSENCE OF CHINA QUOTE HAS MADE IT UNDOUBTEDLY MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO
TACKLE EFFECTIVELY IN THIS FORUM SOME OF THE 1ST PRESSING AND DANGEROUS
PROBLEMS THAT TROUBLE THE WORLD. UNQUOTE
WE HAVE, HOWEVER, TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A DEEPLY DIVISIVE QUESTION
IN THE U.N. AND THUS MY DELEGATION WILL VOTE IN FAVOUR OF BOTH THE DRAFT
RESOLUTIONS BEFORE US TODAY. WE HOPE BEFORE LONG TO HAVE THE
REPRESENTATIVES OF PEKING WITH US. AS IT IS IN OUR INTEREST TO HAVE
GREATER AND CLOSER CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE PEOPLE SO IT IS IN THEIR
INTEREST TO HAVE MORE TO DO WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD. FCO PASS PEKING,
MOSCOW, PARIS, TAMSU! AND HONG KONG.
SIR. C. CROWE
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
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CONFIDENTIAL
103
CYPHER/CAT A
VRIORITY U K MISSION NEW YORK
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2772
CONFIDENTIAL #717157
CONFIDENTIAL OF COPY
FC 2/4
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
7 NOVEMBER 1970
+
ADDRESSED TO FCO TELNO 2772 OF 7 NOVEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TJ
FEKING, WASHINGTON, MOSCOW, PARIS, TAMSUI AND HONG KONG.
* TELNO 2740: CHINESE REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED NATIONS.
I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT TO INCLUDE IN MY STATEMENT THIS YEAR
IN THE FORTHCOMING DEBATE IN THE PLENARY.
2. IN PREVIOUS YEARS U.K. STATEMENTS IN THIS DEBATE HAVE CONCENTRATE CN
TWO POINTS: FIRST, THE OBVIOUS NECESSITY TO ADMIT THE REPRESENTATIVES OF
ONE OF THE MAJOR COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD:
SECONDLY, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE QUESTION BOTH FROM THE GENERAL AND FROM
THE U.N. TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW,
3. WE MUST BE A BIT CAREFUL THIS YEAR ABOUT WHAT WE SAY ON THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE QUESTION. IF, AS IS GENERALLY EXPECTED, THE VOTING THE
ALBANIAN RESOLUTION COMES CLOSE TO A TIE OR EVEN LEADS TO A VERY SMALL
SIMPLE MAJORITY IN ITS FAVOUR, WE SHALL BE FACED WITH A NEW SITUATION
NEXT YEAR. THE AMERICANS ARE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT THIS. THUS WE DO NOT
WANT TO GO TOO FAR OUT ON A LIMB OVER THE QUOTE IMPORTANT QUESTION
UNQUOTE RESOLUTION SINCE I IMAGINE IT IS NOT INCONCEIVABLE THAT, IF IT
IS STILL ON THE STOCKS NEXT YEAR, WE MIGHT WISH TO CHANGE OUR VOTE.
4. THE SIMPLEST COURSE WOULD BE NOT TO SPEAK AT ALL. WE HAVE NOTHING NEW
TO SAY AND, FOR THE REASON IN PARAGRAPH 3 ABOVE, IT MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY
EMBARRASSING TO REITERATE WHAT WE HAVE SAID FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS PAST.
HOWEVER, THE ABSENCE OF A U.K. STATEMENT EITHER IN THE MAIN DEBATE OR IN
EXPLANATION OF VOTE BEFORE THE VOTE WOULD LEAD TJ
MUCH SPECULATION.
5. ON BALANCE, I THINK I SHOULD SPEAK BRIEFLY IN EXPLANATION OF VOTE
BEFORE THE VOTE. IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO AVOID ALL MENTION OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE QUESTION AS THIS TOO WOULD EXCITE SPECULATION.
/BUT
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.2.
P
T
BUT IT WOULD BE AS WELL TO MOVE AWAY FROM SPECIFIC MENTION OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE QUESTION IN THE TECHNICAL U.N. SENSE.
6. M.1.F.T. CONTAINS A ROUGH DRAFT OF A POSSIBLE STATEMENT, WHICH
ATTEMPTS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CONSIDERATIONS SET OUT ABOVE.
7. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS. THE DEBATE STARTS ON 12
NOVEMBER AND
FOLLOWING WEEK.
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEAK BEFORE THE MIDDLE OF THE
FCO PASS PEKING, MOSCOW, PARIS, TAMSUI AND HONG KONG. SIR C. CROWE
L
REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
V.N.D.
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102
HER/CAT-A-
CONFIDENTIAL
ORITY UKMISSION NEW YORK TO FOREIGN AND COMMON EALTH OFFICE
TO FOREIGN AND COMMON EAT COPY
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2749
CONFIDENTIAL COCCODZ
5 NOVEMBER 1970
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NUMBER 20 OF 5
NOVEMBER REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO WASHINGTON SAVING TO FEKING MOSCOW
TAMSU PARIS HONG KONG OTTAWA ROME.
MY TELEGRAM NO. 2742: CHINESE REPRESENTATION AT THE U.!
VED IN
RY No. 6
FEC
WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE VOTING POSITION WITH THE U.S. AND CANADIAY
MISSIONS. THE CANADIANS THINK THAT THE MAXIMUM SWING LIKELY WOULD GIVE
THE ALBANIAN RESOLUTION A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF 5 VOTES. BUT THEY WOULD NOT
EXPECT THIS TO HAPPEN AND THINK IT MORE PROBABLE THAT IT WILL BE CLOSE
TO A TIE.
2.
THE AMERICANS ARE THINKING IN TERMS OF A SPECTRUM RANGING FROM A SIMPLE
MAJORITY FOR THE ALBANIAN RESOLUTION OF A MAXIMUM OF 7 VOTES TO A
MAJORITY AGAINST IT OF 4 VOTES. THEY EXPECT THE' RESULT TO FALL
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THESE FIGURES, PROBALY CLOSE TO A
TIE.
3. WE THINK THAT THESE ESTIMATES ARE ABOUT RIGHT. THERE ARE A FEW
COUNTRIES WHO SEEM CERTAIN TO SWITCH, NAMELY CANADA AND ITALY (FRO"
ABSTENTIONS TO FAVOURABLE VOTES), AND MALAYSIA (FROM A NEGATIVE VOTE TO
AN ABSTENTION). CHILE ALSO SEEM LIKELY TO GO FROM AN ABSTE!!TION TO A
POSITIVE VOTE, OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE BEEN MENTIONED AS POSSIBLE
SWITCHES FROM NEGATIVE VOTES TO ABSTENTIONS ARE LUXEMBOURG, CAMEROUN,
SENEGAL, IRELAND, COLOMBIA, PERU, SIERRA LEONE, CENTRAL AFRICAN
REPUBLIC, BOLIVIA, TOGO, DAHONEY AND
TUNISIA, GABON. THERE IS ALSO SOME TALK OF KUWAIT, INDONESIA, AUSTRIA,
TRINIDAD AND EQUATORIAL GUINEA MOVING TO A VOTE IN FAVOUR.
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/THE LATEST
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THE LATEST RUMOUR IS THAT IRELAND MISHT EVEN SWITCH FROM A NEGATIVE TO A
FAVOURABLE VOTE.
4.
ALL THIS IS, OF COURSE, HIGHLY TENTATIVE AND MANY OF THE COUNTRIES
MENTIONED ABOVE, PARTICULARLY THE AFRICANS AND THE LATIN AMERICANS, ARE
QUITE UNPREDICTABLE.
5.
CH THE OTHER TAČK IT SEEMS CERTAIN THAT CAMBODIA WILL CHANGE FROM A
FAVOURABLE VOTE ON THE ALBANIAN RESCLUTION TO AN ABSTENTION OR THAT THEY
WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE VOTE.
6. EVERYONE TO WHOM WE HAVE SPOKEN IS AGREED ON TWO POINTS: FIRST THAT
THERE WILL BE A FURTHER SWING IN FAVOUR OF THE ALBANIAN RESOLUTION THIS
YEAR AND SECONDLY THAT THE IMPORTANT QUESTION RESOLUTION IS IN NO
DANGER.
FCC PASS SAVING TO PEKING MOSCOW TAMSUI PARIS HONG KONG ROME
SIR C. CROVE
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
U.N.D.
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