740.00119 EW/2–647: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Smith) to the Secretary of State
priority
323. Night of February 6 note was received dated same day from Vyshinski1 to Ambassador regarding signature satellite peace treaties. Text follows in translation.
On February 2 a note of following text was received by Soviet Embassy in Paris:
“Signature of treaties will take place on February 10 in Ministry Foreign Affairs (Salon d’Orloges) [Salon de l’Horloge].
“Treaty with Italy will be signed in morning. Other treaties—afternoon.
“Messieurs the plenipotentiaries of states signing treaties are invited to appear, having with them their plenipotentiary powers, at Quai d’Orsay at 1100 o’clock for signing of treaty with Italy, at 1500 o’clock for signing treaty with Rumania, at 1600 o’clock 15 minutes for signing treaty with Bulgaria, at 1700 o’clock 30 minutes for signing treaty with Hungary and 1800 o’clock 45 minutes for signing treaty with Finland.
“It is necessary that there be communicated to Ministry as quickly [as possible] as this is important, names of monsieur plenipotentiary and of persons who accompany him, so as to prepare in due time passes to Salon d’Orloges [Salon de l’Horlogel], to each delegation will be issued four passes.
“If messieurs plenipotentiaries desire to make declaration before signing, is recommended that they be so good as to transmit its text to the General Secretary of Paris Conference, who at time of these sessions will carry out functions connected with his post, at least 24 hours before beginning of session.
“Protocol will be drawn up according to rules of procedure of Paris Conference. Declarations will be reproduced in it in form of which they are received. With a view to determining before signature place of affixing seal and the ribbons on originals of treaties, plenipotentiaries are requested to be so good as to present their personal seal to General Secretary of Conference (Secretariat of Conference, Minister Foreign Affairs) before February 9, noon.”
Minister Foreign Affairs of USSR sent on February 6 following reply to Government of French Republic:
“In connection with note of Minister Foreign Affairs of French Republic of February 2 with regard to forthcoming signing of peace treaties with Italy, Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland Minister Foreign Affairs of USSR, on instructions of Soviet Government has the honor to communicate following.
‘Soviet Government has no comment of any sort regarding proposal of French Government concerning time of signing each treaty and number of representatives of each party participating in ceremony of signing above mentioned treaties.
‘Soviet Government, however, cannot agree to proposal contained in above note of French Government regarding furnishing of opportunity to plenipotentiaries in signing treaty, including plenipotentiaries of former enemy countries, of making in connection with signing of peace treaties any sort of declarations and inclusion of such declarations in protocol. Reference made in note of French Government to effect that protocol would be drawn up according to rules of procedure of Paris Peace Conference, is unfounded, since it is well known that rules of procedure of Paris Peace Conference related only to work of plenary session of conference and its commissions, and did not have relation to signing of peace treaties.
‘In opinion of Soviet Government furnishing to plenipotentiaries of former enemy countries right to make any sort of declarations with regard to any provisions [Page 521] of relevant peace treaties, with inclusion of these declarations in protocol might have negative consequences. Moreover, international treaty practice does not know examples of peace treaties signing of which was accompanied by drawing up of protocols expressing views of various signatory states on content of these treaties.
‘In view of foregoing Soviet Government cannot agree to procedure for signing peace treaties proposed by French Government, as one not envisaged by decisions of Council of Foreign Ministers. Soviet Government proposes that protocol of signing not be drawn up and gives notice that in signing of peace treaties there must not take place any sort of declarations or conditions on part of defeated countries.
‘Soviet Government at same time is addressing to Governments of US and Great Britain an analogous proposal.
‘Minister Foreign Affairs requests Embassy to bring foregoing to attention of Government of French Republic.’
“In communicating foregoing, Soviet Government hopes that Government of USA will join in point of view of Soviet Government, set forth in its note of reply to the French Government.
“Respectfully yours, A. Y. Vyshinski.”2
Sent Department, repeated to Paris as 28, London as 40.
- Andrey Yanuaryevich Vyshinsky, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.↩
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In telegram 200, February 7, not printed, Ambassador Smith was directed to inform Vyshinsky that the United States Government fully agreed that no protocol of signing should be prepared, and that it did not approve the suggestion of declarations to be made at the time of signature of the peace treaties (740.0011 EW (Peace)/2–647).
In telegram 502, February 7, not printed, Ambassador Caffery was instructed to inform the French Government of this view (740.0011 EW (Peace)/2–647).
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