500.CC/3–1645
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of Special Political Affairs ( Hiss )
| Participants: | Mr. Stettinius |
| Lord Halifax | |
| Ambassador Gromyko | |
| Mr. Pasvolsky | |
| Mr. Dunn | |
| Mr. Raynor | |
| Mr. Hiss |
On the Secretary’s invitation the two Ambassadors were received at about ten minutes after ten in the Secretary’s office. The Secretary opened the conversation by referring to Ambassador Gromyko’s request made earlier in the week69 for a memorandum on tentative arrangements for the San Francisco Conference. The Secretary then handed to Ambassador Gromyko a copy of a memorandum on that subject and handed another copy to Lord Halifax.70 A copy of the memorandum is attached hereto.71
The Secretary then said that it had occurred to him that there would be so many questions relating to the arrangements during the next few weeks that it would be very helpful if an informal steering committee composed of himself and the two Ambassadors could be formed.72 He said that perhaps the Department could undertake related consultation with the Chinese Ambassador. He emphasized that he was making this suggestion from the point of view of convenience of the other sponsoring governments and he made it clear, in response to inquiries, that the committee would deal with questions of procedure and arrangements rather than of substance. It was agreed, however, that if the committee were established it would serve as a means of transmission and communication on matters of policy connected with the Conference.
Ambassador Gromyko said that the proposal seemed to him to be a good idea and Lord Halifax also indicated his agreement. They both said that they would take the matter up with their Governments and let us have a prompt reply. It was further understood that each of the Ambassadors would nominate a deputy for liaison with the Department on these matters.
The Secretary said that through the proposed informal steering committee and liaison with the nominated deputies of the Ambassadors it would be possible to go over maps, charts and other plans for the arrangements and later to discuss which countries might be proposed for various commission and committee positions. He said that he thought it would be helpful if the sponsoring governments could agree on these matters in advance of the Conference.
[Page 130]Ambassador Gromyko asked who would take the initiative in calling meetings of the committee and the Secretary suggested that Mr. Hiss would be asked to undertake this responsibility. This seemed to be agreeable. In this connection the Secretary said that he had in mind that the Conference might select Mr. Hiss to act as Secretary-General.
The Secretary then said that, in the event that the two Governments agreed with his proposal, he hoped that it might be possible to have a prompt meeting of the steering committee. He explained that he would be away next week and he said that he hoped that a meeting of the committee could be arranged in his absence. It was agreed that as soon as the two Ambassadors have received comments of their respective Governments they would notify the Department and a meeting might be arranged immediately thereafter, if there seemed to be sufficient pending matters to warrant a meeting at that time. It was also agreed that in any event, as soon as they had received the comments of their Governments on the memorandum which had been handed to them, they would meet with appropriate officers of the Department.
At this point the Secretary said that he wondered whether the Ambassadors would not be agreeable to having the Chinese Ambassador join in as a member of the proposed committee, assuming that the committee will be agreeable to the British and Soviet Governments. Ambassador Gromyko asked whether any consultation on this matter had yet taken place with the Chinese Ambassador and the Secertary replied in the negative, saying that he had wished to take up the matter first with Lord Halifax and Ambassador Gromyko. Ambassador Gromyko indicated that he assumed there would be no objection to participation by the Chinese Ambassador in the committee if it is established. It was understood that he would ask his Government about this aspect of the matter also. Lord Halifax pointed out that the Chinese are one of the sponsors and indicated that he thought the Chinese Ambassador should participate in the proposed committee if it is created.
Ambassador Gromyko asked whether the Secretary had yet formulated proposals with respect to committees and subcommittees of the commissions. The Secretary replied in the negative and said that we hoped to have more concrete proposals on this point before the next meeting on the subject of the Conference.
- Memorandum of conversation, by the Secretary of State, March 13, not printed.↩
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A copy of the memorandum was transmitted also to the Chinese Ambassador (Wei).
The text of the memorandum was transmitted to London in telegram 2098, repeated on the same date to Moscow as telegram 637, and to Chungking as telegram 462.
↩ - Infra. ↩
- The so-called “Informal Organizing Group on Arrangements for the San Francisco Conference”, composed of the Secretary of State and the British, Soviet, and Chinese Ambassadors, held its first meeting April 3, 1945, the second April 10, and last April 13.↩