The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 231
215 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN could have the Presidency each alternate year as they were even then approaching fifty percent of the membership. We checked up with the Latins, who were quite willing to accept this idea, and they were also quite willing to furnish a candidate for the Presidency of the 17th Session. Finally, we agreed that if Ambassador Amadeo - who was the Permanent Representative of Argentina and who had been Chairman of the First Committee in the 16th Session and had done the job extremely well - was willing to be a candidate, we should go ahead with that idea. He signified his willingness; but almost as soon as this was agreed upon, the government in Argentina was upset and Ambassador Amadeo resigned. I understood that his government had asked him to carry on, but he said that in principle he could not, and so he was out of the picture. While those of us who had thought along these lines were still looking for some Latin who would be willing himself and would be acceptable to the others, an Asian colleague circulated his candidature for the Presidency, so that my original idea could not be carried through. Two other colleagues, representing Asian states, who did not formally circulate their candidacy, had expressed a wish to run for the Presidency. At that stage, the Chairman for that month of the Afro- Asian group, Ambassador Abdul Monem Rifa'i of Jordan, asked to come and see me in my office. He came and asked me to let my name go forward for the Presidency. I told him I still thought it was not proper that an Asian should follow immediately upon an African. One or two other matters also stood in the way, and I told him I was not available. For about six weeks I held back but, finally, on the insistence of Ambassador Rifa'i and some other friends in the Group, I put the matter to my government and they at once cabled back: "Certainly, if you feel there is a fair chance. " It was under those circumstances that my candidacy was circulated. I had not had any experience in that kind of work because I had not done even a chairmanship of committee, which is really the training ground for the Presidency. My own feeling still is, after having been President, that the chairmanship of a committee is a more difficult job than the Presidency of the Assembly. There is more rough and tumble and thrust and parry, and manoeuvring for position in committee than