840.50 UNRRA/6–1643
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Roy Veatch, of the Office of Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations
Mr. Hall called to inform the Department regarding reactions he has received from the Washington representatives of six of the European Allied Governments who have come to him to discuss certain phases of the draft agreement. He says that these representatives have spoken, of course, without definite instructions from their governments but he believes their remarks mirror the opinions voiced by the governments in London in their discussion of the matter preliminary to making specific replies to this Government. He says that he gained the definite impression also that the European Allied Governments are conferring together regarding the matter.
Mr. Hall referred again to the lack of understanding of these governments of the role of the Director General and his international staff, and of their lessened concern over the composition of the Central Committee once they understand that that Committee will not perform executive or administrative functions. He said that there were some other concerns expressed by the representatives of these governments which could be dissipated by a better understanding of the proposal. Out of his various discussions has come one point of substance, however, which he thought might be of some importance and which should come to the attention of the Department.
This point of substance is the concern of the European Allied Governments over the procedure provided in the draft agreement for the calling of the Council in special session by action of a majority of its [Page 915] members. These governments apparently feel that the requirement of action by a majority of all the members of the Council puts an unnecessary and undesirable difficulty in the way of bringing the Council into special session if members of the Council feel that that is necessary or desirable. They point out that this arrangement would in effect require an advance vote on the matter to be brought before the special Council meeting. They would much prefer a provision for bringing the Council into special session by request of only a quarter or one-third of the total members.
Mr. Hall expressed the opinion that there was a good deal of logic to support this point of view and that it would be desirable for the four Powers to yield on this point. Mr. Veatch agreed to place the matter before Mr. Acheson61 and to inform Mr. Hall of his reaction. Mr. Hall said that he would particularly wish to know if this Government saw any strong argument against the proposed change in the draft—he would wish to discourage the idea if it should be discouraged.
- Marginal note by Mr. Acheson reads: “I see no great objection but would like some analysis made of how many countries & what ones would be able & likely to call meetings.”↩