Roosevelt Papers: Telegram
The British Prime Minister (Churchill) to President Roosevelt71
No. 33. United Nations Declaration. I believe that a number of foreign individuals, organizations, or groups have recently told the United States Government, and in some cases they have told us as well, of their wish to accede to the United Nations Declaration as “appropriate authorities” within the terms of the statement issued by the United States Government on January sixth [fifth].72 You will remember that this statement was devised for the Free French. Applications have been received, among others, from Otto Strassers Free German movement, the Basque and Catalan Émigré movements, King Zog and the Latvian Minister at Washington. Halifax has [Page 38] told the State Department that the acceptance of statements of accession by these groups would be embarrassing to us and I understand that there is not in fact any question of such accessions being accepted. We may, however, shortly have to consider approaches from more welcome candidates such as Persia and Ethiopia and possibly Iraq and Saudi Arabia as well as the Free French. My feeling is that it should be left to the country desiring to join to take the initiative but that we should welcome adherence of these particular countries. I am most anxious that you and we should keep in step and that no accession should be accepted without previous consultation between the two of us. As I understand that you are dealing personally with this question, I put my views directly to you. Each particular case which arises can of course be discussed through the usual channels.