740.0011 Moscow/346
United States Delegation Minutes of the Final Meeting of the Moscow Conference
Summary of Twelfth Regular Session of the Tripartite Conference, October 30, 4 p.m.
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Mr. Eden stated that he would like to say a few words in regard to points 1 and 4 of the declaration regarding general European responsibility as against spheres of separate responsibility.1 He said he thought that the principles expressed in points 1 and 4 would be a valuable addition to the work of the Conference if they could be published.
Mr. Molotov said that he had understood that Mr. Eden had withdrawn his proposal on this question, to which Mr. Eden replied that he had in fact withdrawn his suggestion to embody points 1 and 4 in the Four-Nation Declaration2 merely to facilitate the final adoption of the latter document.
Mr. Litvinov then said that in his opinion the principles set forth in points 1 and 4 of the British document in question were already embodied in the Atlantic Charter,3 and since there was no evidence that any of the three powers here was seeking special areas of responsibility or influence he felt that to make a special declaration denying this would give rise to the belief that there had been some such intention on the part of one of the three countries here represented. He also inquired why it was confined only to Europe.
Mr. Eden answered that he felt that there was greater suspicion in that regard on the part of the small nations of Europe, but added that he did not feel he could press the point if there was any objection.
The Secretary said that he was agreeably disposed toward Mr. Eden’s suggestion but he wondered whether there was sufficient time at this closing session of the Conference to consider the question. It was then agreed by the Conference to postpone Mr. Eden’s suggestion until the next conference.
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[Page 131]After the signature4 the Conference turned to the question of the report of the Committee on Iran.5
Mr. Eden proposed that the Conference refer this question for discussion in Moscow by Mr. Molotov and the British and American Ambassadors on the basis of a resolution on Iran which he presented to the Conference (copy attached) .6
Mr. Molotov said he was agreeable to Mr. Eden’s suggestion to refer the question to diplomatic channels but he felt that Tehran might be a more suitable place than Moscow.
The Secretary said that he also felt that Tehran might be more suitable since all materials and data on the subject would be there and the diplomatic representatives of the three countries might be more closely in touch with the local situation. It was agreed that no publicity would be given to the resolution on Iran and that further discussions would take place between the diplomatic representatives of the three powers in Tehran.7
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- Ante, p. 116.↩
- Declaration of Four Nations on General Security, issued at Moscow November 1, 1943; Decade, p. 11.↩
- August 14, 1941; for text, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. i, p. 367, or 55 Stat. (pt.2) 1603.↩
- Of the Declaration of Four Nations on General Security.↩
- For the establishment of this committee, see ante, p. 116. For the report of the committee on Iran (quoted, as adopted, in the secret protocol of the Moscow Conference), see post, p. 133.↩
- No copy was attached to the source text. The document under reference was presumably the draft tripartite declaration, ante, p. 118.↩
- According to Hull, vol. ii, p. 1506, the three Foreign Ministers agreed at Moscow to recommend that the proposed declaration regarding Iran be considered further at the Conference of the Heads of Government.↩