Lot 60–D 224, Box 56: D.O./Conv.A/JSC Mins. 1–12
The Chairman of the Council of Peopled Commissars of the Soviet Union (Stalin) to President Roosevelt 63
I have received your message64 on the question of participation of the Union Soviet Republics in the International Security Organization.
I attach exceptional importance to the statement of the Soviet Delegation on this question. After the known constitutional reforms in our country in the beginning of this year, the governments of the Union Republics are extremely alert as to what attitude the friendly States will take toward the adopted [provision?] in the Soviet constitution [Page 783] broadening of their rights in the sphere of international relations.65 You, of course, know that for instance the Ukraine, Byelorussia which are constituent parts of the Soviet Union, by the number of their population and by their political importance are surpassing certain countries in respect to which all of us agree that they should belong to the number of initiators of the establishment of the International Organization. Therefore, I hope to have an opportunity to explain to you the political importance of the question brought up by the Soviet Delegation at Dumbarton Oaks.
- Copy of telegram transmitted to the Secretary of State by Vice Adm. Wilson Brown, Naval Aide to President Roosevelt, on September 14, 1944.↩
- Telegram 55 of August 31, p. 760.↩
- See telegram 347 of February 2, 1944, from Moscow, vol. iv, p. 810, concerning the unanimous approval by the Supreme Soviet of proposals by the Soviet People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs (Molotov) changing the constitutional system whereby the sixteen constituent republics would exercise autonomy in foreign affairs.↩