UNITED STATES DELEGATION TO THE SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
November 11, 1952 (Typed November 13, 1952)
SUBJECT: Korea; North Africa
PARTICIPANTS: Mr. Ahmed Shukairi, Syrian Delegation and Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League The Secretary Mr. Wells Stabler, U. S. Delegation
Prior to the Plenary this afternoon Mr. Shukairi told the Secretary that in his opinion Vishinsky's speech yesterday had been most aggressive, repulsive and uncompromising and that had he been in the position to speak, he would have wanted to state this feeling on behalf of the Arabs. Mr. Shukairi added that the Arabs had expected that Vishinsky would show some signs of compromise and had been disappointed. Shukairi was convinced that the Soviets had no intention of finding a solution to Korea.
Turning to North Africa, Mr. Shukairi said the Arab States were most disappointed by the uncompromising attitude of Mr. Schuman in his speech. He felt that the French had done their country no good by these remarks.
The Secretary expressed the hope that the debate on this problem could be kept on a high level and that it would be realized by all that New York was not the place to find the solution to this question. He felt that it was a mistake to concentrate efforts here as this would lead to the erroneous conclusion that the North African problem could be settled in New York. The Secretary said he did not attach much importance to the procedural questions such as competence as this was not the basic issue. The basic issue is what to do about the problem once it is before the General Assembly.
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Mr. Shukairi said he hoped it would be possible to handle the question in a calm, matter-of-fact way, but that much of this depended upon Mr. Schuman.
Distribution: Basic List
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