Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1945, General: The United Nations, Volume I

RSC Lot 60–D 244, Box 99

Minutes of the First Meeting of the Informal Organizing Group on Arrangements for the San Francisco Conference, Held at Washington, Tuesday, April 3, 1945, 2:45 p.m.

Washington, April 3, 1945, 2:45 p.m.

[Informal Notes]

[Here follows list of names of participants, including representatives of the United States (5); United Kingdom (2); Soviet Union (2); and China (2).]

I. Organization of the Conference

A. It was pointed out that on this subject the Department’s memorandum of March 30 superseded its memorandum of March 16.

B. The Secretary stated that as a general rule all matters concerning arrangements for the San Francisco Conference should henceforth be taken up through this group rather than through the United States missions abroad.

C. The three Ambassadors⁸² were requested to obtain the comments of their respective Governments on the Department’s memorandum of March 30.

II. Allocation of Conference Positions

A. The Department’s memorandum of April 3, on this subject was presented.

B. The Soviet Ambassador inquired whether it had not been suggested earlier by an officer of the Department that the chairmen of the four sponsoring delegations should be the presidents of the four commissions. It was pointed out that the Department’s memorandum of March 16 had suggested that the presidencies of commissions be allotted to powers other than the sponsoring powers.

C. The Soviet Ambassador recalled that he had suggested to Mr. Dunn⁸³ that the Presidency of the Conference should rotate among the chairmen of delegations of the four sponsoring governments. The Ambassador has pointed out that the necessity of election of four chairmen is dedicated [dictated?] by the necessity of preservation of equality of position among the four sponsoring nations at the Conference. It would be natural to have four chairmen from four countries. The Secretary of State indicated that this suggestion had not yet been considered by they Department. The British Ambassador said that without prejudging the position of his Government he would think, off the record and unofficially, that an American would be President of the Conference and the chairmen of delegation of the other three sponsoring governments would be Vice Presidents. The Secretary of State suggested that precedents in recent United Nations conferences indicated that one person should be responsible throughout the period of the Conference for its effective management.

III. Problem of Official Languages

A. The Department’s memorandum of April 3 on this subject was presented.

B. In response to an inquiry by the Soviet Ambassador it was indicated that under the Department’s proposal any delegation could ask that particular documents of importance be made available in one or more of the official languages other than English, but that it was hoped that this right would be used with moderation in order to avoid mechanical difficulties.

C. Copies were distributed of the proposals made by the French Government that only English and French be considered as official languages.

IV. Policy Regarding Press

It was stated that the Soviet Government had agreed to the press policy proposed by the United States Government⁸⁴ subject to the reservation that the four commissions might, in their own discretion, hold closed sessions. It was agreed that this would be appropriate.

V. Observers from States Not Members of the United Nations

It was stated that, in accordance with the prior decision of the sponsors that no invitation should be issued to any government other than those which have signed the United Nations Declaration, a request of the Italian Government for representation by an observer had been denied.⁸⁵ It was also stated that, similarly, a like request by the so-called Provisional Government of Korea had been denied.⁸⁶

VI. Unofficial Representation of Certain International Organizations

It was stated that the Soviet and Chinese Governments had both expressed their agreement with the United States proposal that arrangements be made for unofficial representation of the five following international organizations at the Conference: The League of Nations, the International Labor Office, the Permanent Court for International Justice, the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and the Interim Commission on Food and Agriculture.

VII. Consultation of Sponsoring States with Respect to the Amendment of Dumbarton Oaks Proposals

Ambassador Gromyko’s memorandum of March 31 on this subject was brought to the attention of the British and Chinese Ambassadors and it was stated that the Department was not in a position to comment on the Soviet proposal at this time.

Next meeting

It was indicated that Mr. Makins would be the British Ambassador’s deputy, that Mr. Novikov would be the Soviet Ambassador’s deputy and that the Chinese Ambassador would designate a deputy. These gentlemen would work with Mr. Hiss and Mr. Ross⁸⁷ informally on matters requiring clearance among the sponsoring governments. It was decided that meetings of the Ambassadors with the Secretary of State would be subject to call as might be required. The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

82. The Ambassadors of the United Kingdom (Halifax), the Soviet Union (Gromyko), and China (Wei).
83. Memorandum of conversation, by Assistant Secretary Dunn, March 31, not printed.
84. Memorandum of conversation, March 31, between Mr. Dunn and Mr. Gromyko, not printed.
85. See note to the Italian Ambassador, April 7, p. 206.
86. See minutes of the fifty-eighth meeting of the United States delegation, May 30, 9:05 a.m., p. 974.
87. John C. Ross, Director, Office of Departmental Administration.