RSC Lot 60–D 224, Box 99: UNCIO Cons Four Min 5 (Part I)
Minutes of the Fifth Four-Power Consultative Meeting on Charter Proposals (Part I), Held at San Francisco, Friday, May 4, 1945, 6:30 p.m.
[Here follows list of names of participants, including Chairmen of delegations of the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and China, together with an indefinite number of unnamed delegates, advisers and experts, of each delegation.]
*In opening the meeting, Mr. Stettinius asked whether the subcommittee had completed its work in the consideration of the proposed amendments to Chapter V, Section B, paragraph 6, and Chapter VIII, Section C, paragraph 2.
[Page 604]Chapter V, Section B, Paragraph 6
Mr. Molotov said that as regards Chapter V, Section B, paragraph 6, their work had not been completed, but that they had agreed in principle on the addition of the following paragraph:
“Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 1 of this Section the General Assembly should be empowered to recommend measures for the peaceful adjustment of any situation, regardless of origin, which it deems likely to impair the general welfare or friendly relations among nations, including situations resulting from a violation of the purposes and principles set forth in this Charter.”
Mr. Molotov said, however, that he was unable to give his final decision in this matter.
Chapter VIII, Section C, Paragraph 2
Insofar as Chapter VIII, Section C, paragraph 2 was concerned, Mr. Pasvolsky reported that they had not yet reached agreement as to the proposed amendments offered by the four Delegations to this Section. Mr. Molotov said that, at the close of their subcommittee meeting, Mr. Pasvolsky had made a suggestion of compromise language to be included, which he had rather liked.
Mr. Pasvolsky read his proposal, which would be to add the following clause at the end of the second sentence in paragraph 2, Section C, Chapter VIII: “with the exception of measures against enemy states in this war provided for in regional arrangements directed against renewal of aggressive policy on the part of such states.”
In explaining his proposal, Mr. Pasvolsky said that it was a question of bringing into proper relationship the provisions of Chapter XII, paragraph 2 and of Chapter VIII, Section C, paragraph 2. To this end, he cited the amendments proposed by the Soviet Government and the British Government and the French Government to the latter paragraph. He said that the position of the United States Delegation was that Chapter XII, paragraph 2, provided for all arrangements against the enemy states, and that the new amendment which was proposed would be in the nature of making Chapter VIII, Section C, paragraph 2 consistent with Chapter XII.
Mr. Eden said that in his view, the point was whether the Anglo-Soviet and the French-Soviet Treaties should be ultimately merged into the world organization. He said that idea had been embodied in the Anglo-Soviet Treaty and for that reason he would like to carry out that suggestion as an addition to the amendment which Mr. Pasvolsky had suggested.
Mr. Molotov said that he assumed that the proposal which had been advanced by Mr. Pasvolsky was one which had been personally made by him. He said that he believed, however, that it was more in keeping with the decisions made at Dumbarton Oaks.
[Page 605]Mr. Molotov then made a long statement as to his views of the arrangements covered by Chapter XII, paragraph 2. He made it clear that while the Soviet Delegation was prepared to support any measures for establishing the proposed international organization, he was not yet prepared to say when the responsibility for dealing with the enemy states should be transferred to that organization. He said that the Soviet Government believed that Germany would do everything in its power to restore its strength, and for that reason his Government was trying to be cautious and farsighted, and to that end had concluded the Anglo-Soviet and the French-Soviet Treaties. When, however, the proposed international organization has gained enough strength and prestige to deal with Germany, the need for the Soviet treaties above mentioned would probably lapse. He pointed out that the Anglo-Soviet Treaty specifically envisions that time.
Mr. Molotov continued by saying that both the Soviet Union and France had twice been objects of German aggression. Again, he emphasized the fact that when the international organization was strong enough to assume the responsibility for dealing with such aggression, the need for the treaties would lapse, but that it was for the parties to the treaties to decide when that time had arrived. He closed his statement by saying that he would accept either the French amendment or the one advanced by Mr. Pasvolsky, which he said was an improvement.
At this point, Mr. Pasvolsky suggested that his amendment might be improved by the addition of the following words: “until such time as the world organization may, by decision of the Security Council, be charged with the responsibility for preventing further aggression by a state now at war with the United Nations.”
A general discussion of this newest proposal followed among the members of the United States Delegation who were present at the meeting. Mr. Stettinius then asked for a recess in the meeting in order that the United States Delegation could consult on this matter among themselves.
Accordingly, a recess was held from 7:05 to 7:45 p.m., while the United States Delegation left the room.1
When the meeting was resumed, Mr. Stettinius apologized for the delay which the United States Delegation had caused, and asked Dr. Koo if he should like to resume discussion of the proposed amendments to Chapter VIII, Section C, paragraph 2.
Dr. Koo said that the Soviet amendment was acceptable to the Chinese Delegation so long as the original text remained intact. However, he said he objected to the inclusion of the words “or other special” [Page 606] in paragraph 1 and 3 of Section C as proposed by the United States Delegation. He said that he felt that the addition of these words opened the door to uncertain developments, and that they added nothing to the original text. He said that the Chinese Delegation would be willing to accept the Soviet text even as revised by the proposed British amendment if that were acceptable to the other Delegations.
Mr. Molotov said that he supported the Chinese Delegation in its views that the words “or other special” as suggested by the United States Delegation should be omitted. Furthermore, Mr. Molotov said that he should like to have the Soviet text amended to exclude the words “already concluded” so that the revised Soviet text would read: “With the exception of measures provided for in treaties directed against the renewal of a policy of aggression on the part of the aggressor states in the present war.”
Mr. Eden said that he had nothing further to add to the discussion; that he preferred the United States redraft of the British proposal as suggested by Mr. Pasvolsky before the recess.
Mr. Stettinius said that the United States Delegation preferred the redraft suggested by Mr. Pasvolsky, with certain modifications suggested by Mr. Stassen, and to this end he asked Mr. Stassen to indicate his ideas on this subject. Mr. Stassen said that he thought the language of the amendment should make clear that Chapter XII, paragraph 2, was in no way affected by this new proposal. Mr. Molotov said that he felt that it would be necessary first to have Mr. Stassen’s proposal couched in exact terms and to have a Russian translation of it before he would be in a position to give an opinion on it.
Mr. Eden suggested that in order to resolve this difficulty, each of the sponsoring Governments should put forth separately its own amendment on this Section, and that later in the Conference, after more detailed consultations, they might be able to agree on a joint proposal. Mr. Molotov said that he could see no other way out at this particular time.
Mr. Stettinius said that he felt they were fairly close in their views, and that with a few more hours this matter could be worked, out. He believed that the four Delegations were in agreement on what they were seeking and for that reason he hoped that they could continue these consultations this evening. Furthermore, he said that they would have a new text prepared, based on Commander Stassen’s suggestions, which they would have available later in the evening. Therefore, he suggested that they adjourn for one hour and resume at 9:30 with Mr. Soong in the chair for a brief period until he and [Page 607] Messrs. Eden and Molotov could deal with another item which was up for consultation among them.2
Accordingly, the meeting adjourned at 8:35.
- Minutes of the Sub-Committee on Treaties are annexed. [Footnote in the original; minutes not printed.]↩
- The United States delegation adjourned to Mr. Stettinius’ bedroom; minutes of meeting infra.↩
- In his Diary for Friday, May 4, Mr. Stettinius noted: “… Eden and Molotov and I were due for a completely private talk immediately after dinner. For Molotov had just informed me that day that the Soviet Government had imprisoned the sixteen Polish leaders who had gone to Moscow to discuss the formation of a more democratic Polish Government. Ambassador Harriman was urging me to issue a public statement condemning this act and to announce the breakdown of our Polish discussion between the Soviets on one side and the British on the other.” For a report of this meeting, see memorandum of conversation, May 4, vol v, p. 281.↩