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

500.CC/6–345: Telegram

The Chairman of the United States Delegation ( Stettinius ) to the Acting Secretary of State

San Francisco , June 3, 1945.
[Received June 3—6:36 p.m.]

4. Please transmit the following to Harriman as from me:

“The following is in reply to your 1882 of June 3. The numbered paragraphs refer to your questions:

1. Gromyko fully accepts the provision that parties to a dispute should abstain from voting as set forth in the Yalta formula.

2. The problem really reduces itself to this question: Whether or not veto power should apply in a decision to place a dispute brought before the Council on the Council agenda for purposes of discussion prior to the taking of any action by the Council.

3. The specific issue was not discussed either at Dumbarton Oaks or at Yalta, but was always taken for granted by us and the British. Our position cannot possibly be construed as being at variance with the Yalta formula since the Soviet Government admits that a procedural vote should apply to the entire section D of chapter VI of the Dumbarton Oaks proposals, and the formulation of an agenda is certainly a procedural matter.

4. By separate telegram⁸⁸ we are sending you the full text of a statement on voting procedure agreed to by the United States, United Kingdom and China, and of the proposed Soviet redraft. This will give you a full understanding of the issues and of the arguments on both sides.

5. We are not wedded to any particular language, provided the point at issue stated in paragraph 2 above is decided in the sense that no single member of the Council can, by the exercise of veto power, prevent the Council from placing on its agenda for purposes of discussion a dispute or a situation brought before the Council, with the understanding that veto power would apply in all decisions and actions as described in numbered paragraph 4 of our statement.”

Repeated to Moscow as No. 1214, June 3, 9 p.m.

[

Stettinius

]

[On June 3 the Secretary of State sent a telegram (No. 5) to President Truman informing him of the issue regarding Soviet contention for veto power against discussion in the Security Council; for text of telegram, see Conferences at Malta and Yalta, page 995.]

88. Telegram 3, June 3, supra.