740.00119 Council/11–547

The Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs ( Wang ) to the Secretary of State 39

In view of the forthcoming meeting in London of the Foreign Ministers of France, the United Kingdom, the United States of [Page 701] America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to resume discussion of the preparation of a peace settlement for Germany, the Chinese Government desires once again to invite the attention of the Government of the United States of America to the position which it has made clear in its note to the Government of the United States of America on January 15, 1947.40

It is to be recalled that the views of the Chinese Government as stated in the above-mentioned note were given support by the Government of the United States of America in its reply dated February 5, 1947.41 The French and the United Kingdom Governments took the same favorable view of the Chinese Government’s position.

The Chinese Government has maintained and still maintains that, according to the terms of reference laid down in the Potsdam Agreement,42 the Council of Foreign Ministers which is constituted by the Foreign Ministers of China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, is charged with the whole range of the preparatory work for the various peace settlements. The drawing up of peace treaties has been delegated to certain of their members who are more specifically concerned. But the competence of the drafting Powers is limited to the preparation of the relevant treaty texts. All questions relating to the convocation of the peace conferences and their procedure are matters for discussion by the full Council or for prior consultation and agreement among the five Foreign Ministers.

When the Foreign Ministers of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom and the United States of America met in Moscow in December 1945 and agreed on a procedure for the preparation of peace treaties with Italy, Rumania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Finland, the concurrence of the Foreign Ministers of France and China was sought and given.43 Although the drafting of these treaties was undertaken only by the deputies of the Foreign Ministers of those Powers whose Governments were signatories to the respective terms of surrender, the Peace Conference held in Paris in 1946 was convened by France as the host nation in the name of the whole Council, and the Chinese Foreign Minister again shared the rotating chairmanship of [Page 702] the Peace Conference with the other four Foreign Ministers of the Council.44

The preparation by the Council of Foreign Ministers of a peace settlement for Germany involves, in the view of the Chinese Government, the same principles. While the drawing up of the peace treaty may be entrusted to France, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as Powers signatories to the terms of surrender for Germany, China is entitled to participate in discussions to determine the time and place for the German Peace Conference, its composition, agenda and other related matters. It also follows that China has the right to be one of the inviting Powers.

  1. This message was transmitted to the Secretary in a note of November 5, 1947, from the Chinese Ambassador in Washington, not printed, which indicated that identic notes were being sent to the French, Soviet and British Foreign Ministers.

    The Secretary of State’s reply to Foreign Minister Wang, which was contained in a note of November 17, 1947, to the Chinese Ambassador, not printed, read as follows:

    “When on several previous occasions the question of the procedure for the preparation of a peace settlement for Germany was raised, this Government made clear that it favored the inclusion of China among the sponsoring Powers for the conference to consider the peace settlement for Germany. This Government continues to adhere to this position.” (740.00119 Council/11–547)

  2. Ante, p. 145.
  3. Ante, p. 153.
  4. See Part II of the Report of the Tripartite Conference of Berlin, August 2, 1945, Foreign Relations, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference) 1945, vol. ii, p. 1500.
  5. For documentation on the Tripartite Conference of Foreign Ministers in Moscow, December 16–26, 1945, see Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. ii, pp. 560 ff.
  6. The records of the Paris Peace Conference are included in Foreign Relations, 1946, vols, iii and iv .