RSC Lot 60–D 224, Box 99: UNCIO Cons Four Pre Min 6
Minutes of the Sixth Four-Power Preliminary Meeting on Questions of Organization and Admission, Held at San Francisco, May 1, 1945, 7:15 p.m.
[Here follows list of names of participants, including members of Delegations of the United States (3); United Kingdom (4); Soviet Union (3); and China (2).]
1. Matters discussed during the casual conversation at dinner29 were as follows:
The question of the relationship of the Franco-Soviet Pact and the Anglo-Soviet Pact30 on the one hand with the new United Nations: Charter came up. Mr. Molotov stated that he felt that if these pacts related to the question of new aggression on the part of Germany, and as the new United Nations Organization will have nothing to do with dealing with Germany, at least for the present, these pacts could continue in force without any modification. He produced a formula which he proposed for addition to the second paragraph of Section C of Chapter VIII of the Dumbarton Oaks Proposals. This formula was somewhat as follows:
“Except as to action provided for under treaties or arrangements which may have been entered into with regard to protection against aggression by Germany”.
Mr. Eden was in entire agreement with this proposal. Mr. Dunn said this would seem to be satisfactory and acceptable as to the present situation and for some time to come, that is, during the period when the United Nations Organization would not have anything to do with the matter of dealing with German action, but that this proposal would not take care of the situation which would arise at some time in the future when the United Nations Organization might assume the responsibility of dealing with new German aggression.
Mr. Molotov said that at that time the reason for these special treaties with respect to German aggression would cease and those [Page 510] treaties might very well be cancelled. He said this was a point which could be discussed further. He left with Mr. Eden a copy of his suggested formula, and Mr. Eden promised to have it copied and sent on to Mr. Dunn the next morning.
2. Mr. Stettinius at one point asked Mr. Molotov whether it would be possible for the four sponsoring Governments to complete their consultations with regard to proposals of amendments or changes to the Dumbarton Oaks Proposals before Mr. Molotov left San Francisco, the American suggestions having already been presented to the British, Russian, and Chinese Delegations. Mr. Molotov said that he did not expect to leave until the Commissions and Committees of the Conference were set up and working. That would be two or three days and he hoped very much that agreement could be reached on suggested amendments among the four sponsors before he left.
3. Mr. Molotov himself brought up the question of Poland, and said that there would be a great advance in the atmosphere of cooperation of the Big Powers of the Conference if some future step could be taken with regard to Poland and that he hoped that some exchange of views while he was here would help to make some progress along those lines. The Secretary said that he was looking forward to discussion of this matter the next day at 11 o’clock, as already arranged, and Mr. Eden said that he was intensely interested in the matter and would be glad to take it up at that time.31
4. Mr. Molotov took occasion to refer to the enormous influence exercised by the Latin American Republics, even including the very small ones, which, he indicated, seemed, in his opinion, to have a voice out of all proportion to their power and resources, merely by associating themselves with others in the South American group. This matter was not pursued, but Mr. Molotov was plainly indicating his concern at the possible control of the Conference by a bloc as opposed to his own conception of having the Conference controlled by the four Major Powers under an agreement to maintain unanimity with respect to all major questions which came before the Conference.
These were about the only subjects of a serious political nature which arose at the dinner, as most of the conversation was on non-controversial subjects and in a tone of complete cordiality and friendliness on the part of all those taking part. Immediately after the dinner, all the Foreign Ministers proceeded to the Opera House for the evening Plenary Session,32 which was presided over by Dr. Soong, the other three Ministers sitting together in the seats of the United Kingdom Delegation. The obvious friendliness and cordiality of tone displayed by the three Ministers sitting in the British Delegation’s seats was remarked on by all those present, including the press [Page 511] and photographers, and a general spirit of hopefulness resulted from their appearing together in this manner.
- Dinner given by Mr. Eden in his apartment at the Mark Hopkins Hotel.↩
- For text of treaty of alliance in the war against Hitlerite Germany and her associates in Europe and of collaboration and mutual assistance thereafter concluded between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, May 26, 1942, see British Cmd. 6376, Treaty Series No. 2 (1942), or Department of State, Documents and State Papers, vol. i, No. 4, p. 227.↩
- See memorandum of conversation, May 2, 11 a.m., vol. v, p. 272.↩
- Doc. 58, P/15, May 2, UNCIO Documents, vol. 1, p. 498.↩