1953 United Nations Secretary-General selection

1953 United Nations Secretary-General selection

← 1950 13 March 1953 – 31 March 1953 1961 →

Candidate Dag Hammarskjöld Lester B. Pearson Carlos P. Romulo Country  Sweden  Canada  Philippines Vote 10 / 11 9 / 11 5 / 11 Vetoes None Round 5th vote 31 March 1953 3rd vote 13 March 1953 1st vote 13 March 1953

UN Secretary-General before election Trygve Lie Elected UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld

A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in 1953 after Trygve Lie announced his intention of resigning. Lie had been at odds with the Soviet Union since the outbreak of the Korean War, and the negotiations for an armistice offered the opportunity for a new Secretary-General to turn the page. The British delegation dragged out the selection process as they campaigned for Lester Pearson of Canada, but he was vetoed by the Soviet Union. Other candidates fell short of a majority in the Security Council. After two weeks of deadlock, France proposed Dag Hammarskjöld of Sweden as a dark horse candidate. Hammarskjöld was acceptable to both superpowers and was selected Secretary-General for a 5-year term.

Hammarskjöld subsequently ran unopposed for re-selection in 1957 and was unanimously appointed to a second term.