CFM Files
United States Delegation Journal
USDel (PC) (Journal) 31
The Delegation of the United Kingdom proposed an amendment to Article 44 intended to show that the use of torpedoes was not prohibited to the Italians. The amendment was adopted unanimously as follows: after the words “guided missiles” insert the words “other than torpedoes and torpedo-launching gear inherent to naval vessels permitted by this Treaty”. After the words “sea mines” insert the words “or torpedoes”.
Article 44 as amended was adopted unanimously.
The Greek Delegation withdrew its motion to defer discussion of the Greek amendment (CP Gen Doc. 1 J 7) proposing two new Articles, 46A and 46B. Mr. Dragomis (Greece) said that it was necessary to fix the ratios of officers and noncommissioned officers to men to prevent the possibility of Italy training the entire army as officers. The Czechoslovak, Yugoslav, and South African Delegates opposed the amendment in debate, and it was voted down, 18 against, 1 for, and 2 abstentions.
Admiral Manola (Yugoslavia)
said that the Yugoslav amendment (CP Gen Doc 1 U 15) to Article 47
was necessary because the Draft Treaty permitted an Italian navy
larger than those of Greece, Albania, and Yugoslavia combined, which
would be a threat to Yugoslavia. The French Delegation argued that
the Draft Treaty proposed a necessary but sufficient reduction of
the Italian fleet. Admiral
Rebuffel (France) introduced an amendment which would
abbreviate Article 47 as follows:
The Chair proposed that the Commission complete its discussion of the Yugoslav amendment and defer consideration of the French amendment until the next meeting. The Yugoslav amendment was rejected: 16 against, 2 for, and 3 abstentions.
[Page 336]General Boase (Australia) said that the Australian amendment (CP Gen Doc. 1 B 8) to Article 48 was presented because Australia felt that the disposal of the excess Italian warships to the USSR, UK, USA, and France was unjustified in view of the existence of the United Nations and the Security Council. He cited Articles 11 and 26 of the United Nations Charter. In the course of his rebuttal to the arguments against the Australian amendment, General Boase said he thought that it would be better if the ships were destroyed, and that he agreed with General Theron (South Africa) that the piling up of armaments by one or two nations had been a major cause of past wars. Admiral Conolly said that the United States Delegation shared Australia’s view of the importance of the work of the United Nations in preparing plans for the regulation of armaments, but that he must oppose the Australian amendment. He said that the stand taken by the United States and the United Kingdom with regard to the Italian fleet was based on ordinary belligerent rights and the surrender of the Italian fleet; since capitulation the Italian Navy had operated with the U.S. and U.K. Navies under the orders of the Combined Chiefs of Staff. The draft Article had not been arrived at until almost a year of study had been given to it, and the United States Delegation was convinced it was the wisest one under the circumstances.
The Australian amendment was rejected: 15 against, 3 for, and 3 abstentions.
Upon a motion by Mr. Alexander (UK), amplified by General Slavin (USSR), rejection of amendments similar to the Australian one for Article 48, for Article 58 and for corresponding Articles in the other Peace Treaties was approved.
Since there were no further amendments, Article 48 was adopted unanimously.
Admiral Conolly said that he wished to keep the record straight, and that adoption of Articles was a provisional adoption only.
The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m. The next meeting is to be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 3.