CFM Files
United States Delegation Minutes
M. Molotov stated that he did not know the basis of Mr. Evatt’s suggestions concerning voting. He did not know what groups of countries or Delegations Mr. Evatt had in mind. But certainly his proposals would have the effect of setting one bloc against another, a majority against a minority. Since he spoke of voting by a three-fifths majority, obviously he had in mind certain states. M. Molotov wondered whether the Allied countries were willing to have such a situation arise. There appeared to be certain calculations behind these proposals for a simple majority or for a three-fifths majority, calculations which were prompted by certain attempts to form blocs. This was not in keeping with the interest of the Conference and must have been prompted by the interests of some one group or some one Delegation. The Conference should take care not to permit playing with votes. It must take steps to assure the prestige of its own recommendations and the authority of the views expressed at the Conference itself. It must reject all attempts to set off twelve or thirteen votes against seven or eight.
M. Molotov continued that the Conference should concern itself above all with the question how best to promote the establishment of peace. That was the main objective. Of course, each Delegation had equal rights and could make proposals, but the rights of the Delegations and of the Conference could not be nullified by any playing with votes. The Soviet Delegation therefore was ready to give favorable consideration to the suggestions on procedure submitted by the Council of Foreign Ministers. All Delegations should be concerned with measures necessary to improve the organization of the Conference. Accordingly, it would be appropriate to repudiate decisively any attempts to play with votes and to make sure that the authority of the decisions of the Conference not be undermined. The prestige of the Conference must be enhanced and its views must be allowed to exercise the proper influence on the drafting of the peace treaties.