CFM Files: Lot M–88: Box 60: USDel Minutes
United States Delegation Minutes, Council of Foreign Ministers, Thirteenth Meeting, Moscow, Aviation Industry House, March 25, 1947, 4 p.m.
USDel (47) (M) 13th Meeting
| Present | ||
| U.S.S.R. | ||
| M. Molotov (Chairman) | ||
| M. Vyshinski | ||
| M. Gousev | ||
| Marshal Sokolovsky | ||
| U.K. | U.S. | |
| Mr. Bevin | Secretary Marshall | |
| Sir William Strang | Ambassador Smith | |
| Lord Hood | Mr. Cohen | |
| Sir Maurice Peterson | Mr. Dulles | |
| General Robertson | Ambassador Murphy | |
| Mr. Bohlen | ||
| France | ||
| M. Bidault | ||
| M. Couve de Murville | ||
| General Catroux | ||
| M. Alphand | ||
| M. de St. Hardouin | ||
| M. Paris |
Report of the Deputies on the Procedure for the Preparation of a German Peace Treaty
Mr. Murphy began to read the report but Secretary Marshall asked if the reading could be dispensed with. It was agreed that the report need not be read.
M. Molotov suggested taking the first part of the Report on Procedure made by the Deputies (See CFM/47/M/60/Annex)58 paragraph by paragraph. He noted that there were no differences in the first two paragraphs and that the first difference occurred in the third paragraph with regard to the participation of Albania in the preparation of the Peace Treaty.
[Here follows a statement by Secretary Marshall on Albania and a statement in reply by Foreign Minister Molotov. For the complete text of Marshall’s statement, see Germany 1947–1949, page 197, or Department of State Bulletin, April 6, 1947, pages 608–609. For the text of Molotov’s reply, see Molotov, Speeches and Statements at Moscow, pages 46–47.]
Mr. Bevin said that there was one other country which ought to be mentioned when naming those who were to participate and that was Persia,59 Mr. Bidault said that the French Delegation did not wish to enter the arena of argument but wished to say that they had accepted Albania’s participation because they had noticed that Albania had been given a place on I.A.R.A. and had had a share in the reparations. He had nothing else to add.
Secretary Marshall noted that M. Molotov had said that Albania was given reparations under the Italian Treaty and the right to share, under the Paris Reparations Agreement, in German reparations but Albania had not been given the right to attend the Paris Peace Conference as a member or to sign the treaty. It did not seem that Albania, not having declared war or been admitted to the United Nations, should be given a part in the German Peace Treaty. The United States Delegation did not see its way clear to Albania’s being put in a more favorable class than certain other allies that might be mentioned.
Mr. Bevin had mentioned Persia. Secretary Marshall said that he would like to call attention to the American reservation under paragraph 2 (see page 2, CFM/47/M/60). He said:
[Here follows Secretary Marshall’s statement on the question of the association of Allies with the Council of Foreign Ministers; for full text, see Germany 1947–1949, page 198, or Department of State Bulletin, April 6, 1947, pages 607–608.]
[Page 286]Mr. Molotov said that it was pointed out that Albania had not declared war against Germany and that therefore it could not take part in the Peace Conference. He would like to point out that Denmark was to be allowed to participate although she had not declared war. He asked that a similar exception be made in the case of Albania.
He said that the fact that Albania had taken part in the war on the side of the Allies could not be disputed nor that the Allies had approved the inclusion of Albania in the work of I.A.R.A., which determined the right of the states to reparations from Germany and their share.
It was correct that Albania did not participate in the Paris Peace Conference but then it was decided that Albania had the right to reparations from Italy and after the conclusion of treaty that she could be an Associated Power. These facts recognized the contributions made by Albania.
Mr. Molotov noted that Iran had been mentioned. He said that the Soviet Delegation had raised the question at the Deputies and recalled that the Soviet Union as well as Great Britain had undertaken obligations in 1942 promising support to Iran’s participation in the peace negotiations in which it was directly interested. The Soviet Delegation now asked that this agreement be supported directly by the Council of Foreign Ministers.
Mr. Molotov said that when the subject of the Consultation Conference was raised, in the course of discussion, the Soviet Delegation would express its views.
M. Bidault said that the French Delegation remembered that it was the first to raise this question, specifically on the 11th of July, 1946, that all Allied States should be asked at least to give their opinions at the Peace Conference. He said that the French Delegation, with other delegations, had envisaged two systems: the first, to associate more closely those countries who had contributed effectively with their armed forces to the war and who were most interested; the second, for those who simply declared war without effective contribution. The first system consisted of the participation at the Consultation and Information Conference, at the Committees and Sub-Committees of the Council. The second system consisted of the opportunity to express views at the Council or Deputies. It was difficult to make the allocation between the first and second systems. The United Kingdom had proposed that Iran be added under the first category and the United States had proposed that the system of participation in the Consultation and Information Conference apply to all the Allies. He said that the French Delegation was ready to examine both proposals but was not in a position to give an opinion today since the proposals involved [Page 287] practical consequences and the risk might be run of there being a Conference of 54 and not 24 states, which would be a mistake.
M. Bidault proposed referring the question of participation to the Deputies for them to report on this matter, discussion of which had been too long delayed.
Mr. Bevin said that he would like to express the United Kingdom’s position with regard to Persia. He said that Persia had done what she had been asked. She had remained on the line of communication and had done what she was asked. He said that she should be joined to the 18 invited states.
Mr. Molotov said that M. Bidault had proposed that the question of Iran and the composition of the Consultation and Information Conference be referred to the Deputies.
Secretary Marshall said that he was in complete agreement with and supported this proposal but wished to add one comment. The United States supported the right of Iran to participate just as it also supported the right of all states at war to participate.60
He pointed out that a number of American Republics had abstained from sending troops on the suggestion of the United States that they could contribute more in other ways and so avoid involving the United States in heavy shipping difficulties.
Mr. Molotov said that he agreed with Mr. Bidault’s proposal that the question of Iran and the composition of the Consultation and Information Conference and with Mr. Marshall’s suggestion regarding certain other countries be referred to the Deputies for preliminary examination.61
[For a summary of the remainder of the discussions at this meeting of the Council, see infra.]
- See footnote 48, p. 397.↩
- In a note dated March 17, 1947, to the Heads of the Delegations to the Council of Foreign Ministers, circulated to the Council as document CFM(47) (M)25, March 19, not printed, the Iranian Ambassador in the Soviet Union renewed his government’s request for participation at the German peace conference.↩
- Regarding the attitude of the United States Government with respect to participation by Iran in the discussions concerning the German peace settlement, see the note of March 17, 1947, from the Acting Secretary of State to the Iranian Ambassador, p. 491.↩
- In a note of April 6, 1947, to the Council of Foreign Ministers, not printed, the Iranian Ambassador in the Soviet Union expressed appreciation for the Council’s consideration of Iran’s request to participate in the German peace settlement. The note was circulated to the Council as document CFM (47) (M) 108, April 7, 1947, not printed.↩