500.CC/11–2544
The Ambassador in Belgium (Sawyer) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 9.]
Sir:
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Reverting to the Dumbarton Oaks proposals, M. Spaak said that from what he had heard concerning the discussions that had taken place with regard to voting procedure in the Security Council, he feared that any single major power would be in a position to veto the decisions of all the other nations. On the other hand, the smaller powers would be bound to accept the decisions of the major powers as laid down by the Security Council. M. Spaak understood that the major powers would wish to reserve the right to decide, each for itself, whether or not it should become involved in any conflict which might arise. He was willing also to accept the obligation to abide by the decisions of the major powers if that was the price that had to be paid for permanent peace, but he had serious doubts that the organization that had been planned at Dumbarton Oaks would be able to maintain permanent peace.
M. Spaak wondered if the provisions concerning the relative influence of the small and the large powers in questions affecting security might not be taken as a precedent when certain international economic organizations were set up. He indicated that Belgium thought it should have a voice equal to that of any other nation in any economic organization.
M. Spaak was asked if he thought it would be preferable to give each country a vote proportionate to its population. He replied that offhand some such arrangement appeared to him more acceptable.
M. Spaak’s final criticism was that the Dumbarton Oaks papers contained no statement of principles on such fundamental matters as the right of self-determination, the satisfaction of legitimate national aspirations and respect of world public opinion.
M. Spaak did not hide that he considered the Dumbarton Oaks proposals an improvement in certain aspects over the League of Nations [Page 941] Covenant. He cited as examples the provisions with regard to the establishment of a Military Staff Committee58 and permitting decisions to be taken by the Assembly without unanimous agreement.59
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Respectfully yours,
- The omitted portions of this despatch related to Belgian Foreign Minister Paul-Henri Spaak’s ideas on a possible Western European regional arrangement and a discussion of Belgian war aims.↩
- Chapter VIII, Section B, in the Dumbarton Oaks Proposals, p. 896.↩
- Chapter V, Section C, in the Dumbarton Oaks Proposals, p. 893.↩