U.S. Delegation Memorandum
Leningrad, February 6, 1945, 4 p.m.
Voting Procedure
Supplementary Arguments for Use of Secretary
- Doubt as to acceptability of Organization unless our proposal is adopted. Our main concern is being able to establish the Organization.
American public opinion and the smaller nations, especially the Latin American nations, and – we believe – the British Dominions, may not accept an Organization which they believe fails to accord them a just and reasonable position.
- Importance of the Organization starting off with good will of all members and of world public opinion.
In the Tehran Declaration, the three powers stated:
We recognize fully the supreme responsibility resting upon us and all the nations to make a peace which will command good will from the overwhelming masses of the peoples of the world…
Without this good will on the part of all members of the Organization – even if it could be established – its future would be uncertain.
To insure this good will so necessary to the effective operation of the Organization, we must avoid the charge of great power domination.
- Unity of the great powers is one of our major aims and is promoted rather than impaired by our proposal.
If there should unfortunately be any differences between the great powers, the fact would become fully known to the world, whatever voting procedure is adopted.
Discussion of differences cannot be prevented in the Assembly in any event.
To permit full and free discussion in the Council will in no sense promote disunity, but will, on the contrary, demonstrate the confidence the great powers have in each other and in the justice of their own policies.
Yalta, February 6, 1945