840.811/8–248: Telegram
The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Cannon) to the Secretary of State
Deldu 27. In relatively calm atmosphere Danube Conference at third meeting today discussed rules of procedure submitted by Yugoslav delegation (doc. plen. 1) which were adopted with minor changes. For the most part they are standard rules. I saw no point in raising objections to points of detail believing that we must go on assumption conference will be fairly conducted until it is proved otherwise.
Article on voting provides for simple majority vote on all questions. French suggestion that two thirds rule apply on matters of substance was immediately opposed by Soviet bloc representatives. Vyshinsky defended simple majority rule with wealth of historical references and as much fervor as he and Molotov displayed at Paris Conference of 1946 in defending two thirds rule as only democratic procedure. I did not intervene in discussion since in practice it should make no difference, Soviet bloc having seven votes, and since I did not wish to go on record in opposition to majority rule. As French ultimately withdrew their suggestion which they did not submit as formal motion it did not come to a vote. It is difficult to see how we could have taken any defensible stand on voting question which would in itself safeguard US position at conference.
While voting article was under discussion Austrian delegation again called attention to conference’s error in barring Austria from voting. In same statement Orsini-Rosenberg replied to slurs in Vyshinsky’s Saturday speech concerning Austria’s ties with Nazis and record in war. This immediately provoked strong and insulting speeches by Vyshinsky and Bebler harsher than original Vyshinsky remarks. As I had warned Rosenberg of just such consequences when he asked my advice last night and did not wish to prolong irrelevant controversy I did not feel inclined to enter the debate.
[Page 645]At close of session Vyshinsky submitted Soviet draft convention summarized in my next following telegram1 and being forwarded immediately by pouch.
Sent Department; pass Bucharest, Sofia, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Paris, London, Geneva, Berlin.
- See telegram Deldu 28 from Belgrade, August 3, this page.↩