CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06224759
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2016
• Case Number: F-2014-01825
• Publication Date: October 6, 1961

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6 October 1961
Copy No. C/�?
CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
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ppointment of an Interim UN Secretary. General
The 52-year-old U Thant has been Burma's permanent
representative at the United Nations since 1957. A close
friend of Prime Minister U Nu, Thant has been regarded as
one of Burma's more able public servants. He is in accord
with Burma's neutralist objectives, but within this pattern is
broadly pro-Western in outlook and, according to the Amer-
ican Embassy in Rangoon, a strong anti-Communist. He
vigorously defends the right of newly emerging nations to oc-
cupy a neutral position between East and West, and has been
a persistent advocate of Communist China's admission to the
UN. U Thant is a suave, well-groomed man, equally pleas-
ant to those whom he likes and those he dislikes. He speaks
excellent English.3
[Hammarskjold himself considered U Thant a capable nego-
tiator. In January, when he was searching for a successor to
Dayal as chief UN mediator in the Congo, Hammarskjold said
he would appoint U Thant if the Burmese Government would
release him.I
an June 1960, as part of his proposed reorganization of
the UN Secretariat, Hammarskjold suggested that five assist-
ant secretaries general with "political" responsibilities be.
appointed on a broad regional basis. One assistant would always
be a US national and one a Soviet. The remaining three should
be "nationals from countries outside any power blocs." Although
this phraseology seems to endorse the concept of three power
blocs, Harnmarskjold on 20 July assured the US delegation that
it did not establish any new criteria for the selection of Secre-
tariat personnel beyond competence and geographic distribution,
as specified in the UN Charter. Moreover, Hammarskjold in-
tended to retain the right to appoint these assistants3
During the past week UN members, particularly those of
the ro-Asian bloc, have been promoting this plan for five un-
der secretaries with a single secretary general. Their efforts--
plus the strong opposition of the West to the troika at the secre-
tary general level--may have influenced the USSR to accede to
U Thant's appointment with five advisers:
6 Oct 61 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN Page 2
Approved for Release: 2016/05/26 C06224759