U.S. State Department (February 11, 1945)
Meeting of the Foreign Ministers, 4:20 p.m.
| Present | ||
|---|---|---|
| United States | United Kingdom | Soviet Union |
| Secretary Stettinius | Foreign Secretary Eden | Foreign Commissar Molotov |
| Mr. Hiss | Sir Edward Bridges |
Bohlen Note
February 11, 1945, 4:20 p.m.
Meeting of the Foreign Ministers to Approve the ‘Summary of Proceedings of the Conference’
At this meeting, the discussion was almost entirely related to language and drafting problems. Mr. Eden, supported by Mr. Stettinius, proposed that Saudi Arabia be included among those countries which, if they declared war on the common enemy before March 1, would be invited to attend the United Nations Conference at San Francisco. Mr. Molotov said that he could not accept that proposal without reference to Marshal Stalin, and suggested that, since time was so short, that it would be reserved for possible future consideration. Mr. Molotov’s suggestion was accepted.
Hiss Notes
February 11, 1945, 4:20 p.m.
2/11 4.20 pm
ERS Chmn
Final meeting of For Mins
ERS: 1st subject is approval of communique
Sir Edward Bridges to report on read communique
Re D.O.
Mol. Marshal Stalin said should say what is said in conclusions that was agreed on voting & not that President’s proposal had been adopted
No objection if Mr. S. or anyone else should say this was the proposal of the Pres.
In no other place is it said on whose initiative it has been done
ERS This was discussed this morning in presence of Mar & Pres & I discussed it at length with Pres. Would be very diff. for me to agree
Mol Was no agt on this special point
We said we had another q on this par.
Simultaneously with the pub. of com. you or someone say this was the proposal put forward by the Pres. We don’t want to hush-hush this fact.
ERS: agreed to eliminate the reference to Pres.
Re consultation
Ed on procedure – US is to approach Ch. & Fr. Desirable that consultation be done as soon as possible – 48 hours if possible as will be great interest in the subject
2/11
ERS Chmn
For. Mins.
(After intermission)
Summary of Conclusions
p. 1 Mol. what would be the title: “Decisions”?
Agreed: Protocol of the proceedings of the Crimea Conference
Mol. First phrase
The Crimean Conf. of the 3 heads of the Govts of USSR, US & Gt Brit which took place in the Crimea from Feb 4 to Feb 11 took came to the following conclusions:
Ed. Would like to add Saudi Arabia before Turkey
Mol. Why
Ed They did want to declare war & we discouraged them
Mol. This q. was not discussed. There would then come others (i e new suggestions)
Ed. Good to have Moslem or two Ibn Saud is having cup of coffee with Pres.
ERS I have no objection. They have assisted in the prosecution of the war to some extent
Mol I don’t know if Saudi Arabia will be much help. Think it over & consider at end of protocol
p. 2
San Francisco inserted
Mol. I want to be there
p. 3 ERS “or in the preliminary consultations”
Agreed
p 5 Insert protocol in place of reparations section
Agreed
p 9 ERS agreed re Yug.
p 10 ERS suggests insert “among the For. Secs”
Suggests eliminate last sentence
Mol: “Mr. Mol. agreed to this proposal”
Eden: should not say views will be conveyed “aint any views” instead say: could not be approved
Persia
Mol: Suggests instead:
“Mr Ed, Mr S & Mr Mol exchanged views on the sit. in Iran”
Otherwise eliminate altogether
Ed add “It was decided agreed that the matter would be pursued further through the dip. channel.”
Montreux
Mol. after “Convention”: which ceased to correspond to the contemporary sit.”
It’s a hint in regard to change
ERS we should consider sit. before suggest give a hint
Ed. Alternative: the changes proposals which it was understood the Sov. Govt would put forward with reference in relation to the Montreux Con.
Agreed to Ed. alternative with last sentence omitted
Ed. We will inform the Turks
Mol About the fact that this q. will be raised
Ed insert informed “at the appropriate moment”
Mol. Insists on his amend
Ed. willing to stop there & leave out assurance point.
Transmit to Pres. copy of what ERS signs Protocol & of 2 tels to
Ed. submitted the draft cable to de G. re zone of occup & Control Com
ERS agreed
Mol. hadn’t had time to read
Mol. Gave his prelim. consent. Mar. St. has not seen them. Will give his answer tonight
Saudi Arabia – Mol. To let Ed. Know