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

500.CC/2–2345: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)

Washington, February 23, 1945—7 p.m.

402. Turkey and Egypt appear certain to enter into a state of war with Germany and Japan at once and adhere to the United Nations Declaration.⁵³ Iceland also may enter into a state of war with Germany and adhere. If and when each of these nations takes this action we shall accept its adherence on the understanding that this is in line with Yalta agreement.⁵⁴

If the Soviet Government concurs in the proposal regarding Saudi Arabia, contained in our 391, February 22, 9 p.m., we shall, in the event that Saudi Arabia enters into a state of war, accept her adherence to United Nations Declaration.

Please communicate pertinent part of the above immediately to Foreign Office and make every effort to obtain by tomorrow a reply to our 391 regarding Saudi Arabia.⁵⁵

Grew

53. Acting Secretary Grew informed the Ambassador in Turkey (Steinhardt) and the Minister in Egypt (Tuck) (telegrams 218 and 439, February 19, 8 p.m., respectively), that it was understood the British were bringing to the attention of Turkey and Egypt the possibility that they might qualify for attendance at the San Francisco Conference and instructed them to consult with their British colleagues and thereafter discuss the matter informally with the Turkish and Egyptian Foreign Ministers. In each telegram Mr. Grew stressed that the decision on this question obviously was one for Turkey and Egypt to make and we should not urge them one way or another. (740.0011 E.W. 2–1945) The favorable responses of these Governments were reported to the Department in telegrams 245, February 20, 6 p.m., from Ankara, and 439, February 22, 5 p.m., from Cairo. (740.0011 EW/2–2045, /2–2245)
54. Conferences at Malta and Yalta, pp. 773–774.
55. Ambassador Harriman informed the Department in telegram 549, February 26, 1 p.m., from Moscow, that the Soviet Government had indicated approval of adherence of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations Declaration and her participation at San Francisco Conference on condition that she declare war against Germany by March 1st; also, the Soviet Government had no objection to the adherence to the declaration of the United Nations of Turkey, Egypt, and Iceland on the conditions established by the decision of the Crimea Conference (500.CC/2–2645).