The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 220
204 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN In February or March of this year, it became clear that Ambassador Ali Sastroamidjojo would not be available. I started a suggestion in certain sections of the group that if Ambassador Amadeo of Argentina could be available, we should let the Latins have the Presidency. Ambassador Amadeo had proved so efficient a chairman of the First Committee, which has very often been regarded as the first step towards the Presidency, that I thought he would make an excellent President. I consulted certain delegations, and they all said, that if the Latins agreed with us that they would help us to secure the Presidency each alternate year, we would be quite willing to support Ambassador Amadeo. Right in the middle of all this, there was a political upset in Argentina, and Ambassador Amadeo resigned. Thus he was no longer available. At that stage, certain Asian candidates let their names be circulated for the Presidency. I was not thinking of myself in that connection, but an approach was made to me by the Chairman of the Afro-Asian group, Ambassador Rifai of Jordan as to whether I could be available. I told him what I had been thinking and said that though Ambassador Amadeo was not available, we might still consider some suitable Latin American candidate. He was, however, very insistent, and two or three names were already being mentioned from among the Asians and he and some of his colleagues thought that I would be the most suitable and would I let my name be mentioned. I put him off. He came a second time, and a third time, and finally I agreed to put it to my government. I gave them the background and asked them how they felt. They thought I should put forth my candidacy, and I did. It was clear from the outset that none of the other three candidates whose names were mentioned at that time could be said to be sure of being elected. Within a week, or two weeks, it became clear that I stood a good chance of being elected. The Japanese intimated to our government that they had been quite serious in their candidacy but since I was now a candidate, they had no desire to contest the Presidency with me. That was very good of them. The third candidate also fell out fairly early - he had not yet formally put forward his candidacy. Ambassador Malalasekra of Ceylon, who had formally put forward his candidacy, remained in the field.