IO Files: US/A/M (Chr.)/10
Minutes of the Tenth Meeting of the United States Delegation, New York, Hotel Pennsylvania, October 25, 1946, 9 a.m.
[Here follow a list of names of persons (26) present and the discussion on several agenda items.]
Trusteeship Discussions
Mr. Bloom reported that the Trusteeship Committee of the Delegation had discussed the trusteeship problem for a long time on October 24 but could not come to any conclusion. They felt that until a statement regarding the U.S. position on the Pacific Islands was available, the Delegation could not come to any final decision. He therefore wished to request that the Delegation should send another message to Washington requesting additional instructions on the Pacific problem.
Mr. Dulles concurred with Mr. Bloom and cited the South African question. He pointed out that the Delegation could not have a decision on whether the situation should be investigated because if it were to be proposed that the U.S. annex the mandated islands, then the South African precedent might be used to provide for an inspection.43 On this inspection group might be all the permanent members of the Trusteeship Council. He asked, therefore, how the Navy would like to have Soviet representatives inspecting Pacific Island bases. In other words, he said, the Delegation does not want to be embarrassed. He continued that the question of monopolies was similarly complicated for the reason that the Navy wanted to establish trade monopolies for Americans on Pacific Islands because they thought that if foreigners were allowed in, they would photograph the islands and therefore endanger security.
Mr. Dulles inquired how, if these views of the Navy were correct and were the U.S. Government’s position, how the British proposals for a monopoly in Tanganyika could be opposed. The United States was incapable of establishing a position on these questions until the American Pacific Islands position was defined. He said that he and Mr. Bloom were in agreement that the United States practically had to abstain until a directive came from Washington.
Mr. Ross reported that the message which had been sent by the Delegation was being considered in the Department through conversations between Mr. Byrnes, Mr. Forrestal and the President. Apparently no conclusion had been reached yet. Now Mr. Byrnes had gone to [Page 662] South Carolina for two or three days. Mr. Ross said if it was agreeable he would send a further message pointing out that it was the decision of the U.S. Delegation that until the American position on the Pacific Islands was defined that the Delegation could not go to work on the trusteeship question.
Senator Austin inquired whether the Navy had receded from its original position and Mr. Ross said he did not know.
Mr. Bloom inquired whether any consideration had been given to consulting the Chairmen of the Committees of the Senate and House. From what he had heard on the Hill about this question, committees of both Houses were very much interested in the Pacific Islands question.44 He thought that if a decision were made without these committees being at least informed, and preferably consulted, that there would be considerable difficulty. He would like to have the Secretary of State informed that the various chairmen of the military committees should be consulted on this question. Senator Austin said he knew that the military committee of the Senate would dig into this subject thoroughly. Mr. Bloom commented that if Mr. Vinson was not given a chance to say something on this question he would be very much displeased.
Senator Austin suggested that there would probably be some more informal work done before Monday and it might be well to reach the respective chairmen by telephone and arrange an appointment on Monday. Mr. Bloom pointed out that the chairmen of the various committees had gone over these questions year after year whereas the Secretaries of State only picked them up at the time they entered office. He said there were many questions to which a great deal of consideration had been given over the years.
Mr. Fahy said he supposed there was a difference between annexation of territories for military bases as provided in a peace treaty and annexation of a mandated territory as was involved in the case of South West Africa. Mr. Dulles pointed out that in this connection consideration was being given only to the mandated islands and it was this on which clearance was needed.
Senator Connally remarked that this was simply because other nations had interests in these islands. Mr. Dulles replied this was the case and that also involved was a substitution of the United Nations for the League of Nations. Mr. Dulles said that if there was an agreement, as he hoped there would be, on a strategic trusteeship for the mandated islands, the Navy was going to be very stringent in what it would accept in the agreement. Mr. Dulles did not want the Delegation [Page 663] to be in the position of opposing in someone else’s trust agreement what was going to be included in a United States agreement. He emphasized that he and Mr. Bloom were in full agreement on the need for instructions and clarifications of the United States position.
[Here follows discussion of a proposed schedule for attendance by delegates at the next five Plenary Sessions.]