Lot 60–D 224, Box 55: D.O./P.R./13
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius) to the Secretary of State
Subject: Progress Report on Dumbarton Oaks Conversations—Fourteenth Day
Meetings of the Formulation Group on Security
In meetings yesterday afternoon and this morning the group considered further the questions relating to the determination of threats to or breaches of the peace and action with regard thereto, and began consideration of the question of the regulation of armaments. In regard to the first of these matters, the following points were dealt with:
- 1.
- At the request of the Soviet group there was inserted an enumeration of the possible types of measures involving and not involving the use of force to which the council might resort in the maintenance of peace and security.
- 2.
- The Soviet representatives took the position that there should be inserted a provision that member states not having sufficient armed [Page 768] forces for carrying out enforcement action undertaken by the council should make available territory for bases for this purpose. The United States and British groups felt that this matter was adequately covered by the paragraph already agreed to in regard to the provision of facilities and furthermore objected to the phrasing of the Soviet proposal. Both the United States and British representatives submitted alternative drafts for this provision which will be considered by the Formulation Group and the Joint Steering Committee.
- 3.
- There was approved a paragraph providing that the council is to determine whether all or some members of the organization should participate in any particular enforcement action.
In regard to the regulation of armaments the group reached agreement that member states should undertake to negotiate a general agreement on this subject and that the international organization should be responsible for initiating these negotiations. Both the British and the Soviet representatives objected to the United States proposal that regulation cover “armed forces” as well as armaments. The Soviet representatives were also desirous of mentioning the regulation of armaments specifically among the questions concerning which the general assembly should be authorized to make recommendations, but the British and United States representatives saw no reason for singling out this one among the many subjects which the assembly might discuss.
Discussion of the regulation of armaments will be continued in the Formulation Group and in the Joint Steering Committee.