Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, General, Volume I

The Chairman of the Council of Peopled Commissars of the Soviet Union (Stalin) to President Roosevelt ⁸⁰

[Translation]⁸¹

I have received your message regarding the discussions at Dumbarton Oaks.⁸²

I also hope that these important discussions may end successfully. This may be of serious significance for the further strengthening of cooperation of our countries and for the whole cause of future peace and security.

I must say that for the success of the activities of the International Security Organization, of great significance will be the order of voting in the Council, having in mind the importance that the Council work on the basis of the principle of coordination and unanimity of the four leading powers on all questions, including those which directly relate to one of these nations. The initial American proposal that there should be established a special procedure of voting in case of a dispute in which one or several members of the Council, who have the statute [status?] of permanent members, are directly involved, seems to me correct. Otherwise will be brought to naught the agreement achieved among us at the Teheran Conference which is proceeding from the principle of provision, first of all, the unanimity of agreement of four powers necessary for the struggle against aggression in the future.

Such a unanimity proposes [presupposes?], of course, that among these powers there is no room for mutual suspicions. As to the Soviet Union, it cannot also ignore the presence of certain absurd prejudices which often hinder an actually objective attitude toward the U.S.S.R. And the other nations also should weigh the consequences which the lack of unanimity among the leading powers may bring about.

I hope that you will understand the seriousness of the considerations expressed here and that we shall find a harmonious solution of this question as well.

[ Moscow ,] September 14, 1944.

80. Copy of telegram obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y. Marginal note indicates that a copy was transmitted by the White House Map Room to President Roosevelt in Quebec and, by direction of the President, a copy was sent to Mr. Stettinius.
81. For the Soviet translation of this telegram, see Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the U.S.S.R., Correspondence Between the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R. and the Presidents of the U.S.A. and the Prime Ministers of Great Britain During the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945 (Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow, 1957), vol. ii, p. 160.
82. See telegram 58, September 8, p. 788.