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

500.CC/6–2545

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Hayden Raynor, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State

[San Francisco,] June 25, 1945.

Participants:	Mr. Stettinius
	Ambassador Gromyko
	Mr. Hayden Raynor

Ambassador Gromyko called at his request this morning and stated that he was concerned relative to a statement in the Committee’s report on the subject of withdrawals.¹³ He said his Government did not like the sentence stating that when a state withdrew, it would leave the burden of maintaining peace and security on the other members of the organization. He also said his Government did not like the paragraph referring to the possible failure of the organization where the expression is used “If deceiving the hopes of humanity …”. The Secretary and Mr. Raynor explained that this report had been approved by the Commission¹⁴ and we did not see how it could be opened up at this late date.

The Ambassador said he wanted to discuss it privately with Mr. Stettinius in the hope that he could call a meeting of the Big Five and have it changed.

The Secretary replied that he felt that this was quite impossible in view of the stage of the Conference.

The Ambassador then said that under the circumstances he would have to bring the matter up at tonight’s plenary session.¹⁵

Mr. Stettinius urged him not to do so and stressed the fact that if he was under instructions to bring it up that he hoped he would confine whatever he did to the making of a statement, explaining that in his judgment if he requested a vote the Soviet Union would be badly voted down on it.

The Ambassador did not indicate which course he would pursue at the plenary session.

The Secretary then suggested, in view of the fact that Lord Halifax would be in the chair at tonight’s plenary session, that it would be advisable if the Ambassador called on Halifax and explained this situation to him. Mr. Raynor arranged this meeting with Halifax and the Ambassador left to go directly to see Halifax.

During the whole conversation the Ambassador was affable and seemed in a good mood, not giving the impression that this was a serious matter. The impression we had was that he was instructed to make a record in the plenary session and to stop at that point.

13. Doc. 1178, I/2/76(2), June 24, UNCIO Documents, vol. 7, p. 328; also, Doc. 1154, I/2/73(2), June 22, ibid., p. 470.
14. Doc. 1142, I/9, June 21, ibid., vol. 6, p. 233.
15. Doc. 1210, P/20, June 27, ibid., vol. 1, pp. 619–620.