500.CC/2–545
Memoradum by the Chief of the Division of Eastern
European Affairs (Durbrow) to the Chief of the
Division of International Organization Affairs (Sandifer)
[Washington,] February 5, 1945.
The Polish Ambassador95 called this morning
and left the attached memorandum outlining the Polish Government’s
preliminary views96 regarding the Dumbarton Oaks proposals.
The Ambassador stated that he felt it might be helpful to submit this
memorandum in advance in order that you might study it and thus be in a
better position to discuss details with him at a later date. He
emphasized that the ideas as expressed in the memorandum were submitted
on an informal basis and were of a preliminary nature and that they did
not represent the final views of the Polish Government on this
question.
The Ambassador states that as soon as you had had an opportunity to study
the document he would be pleased to come to the Department to discuss
them with you and any of your associates.97
[Annex]
Summary of the Polish Commentary of
February 5, 1945, on the Dumbarton
Oaks Proposals
The Polish Government, in a memorandum of January [February] 5, 1945,98 presents its “preliminary observations” on the
Dumbarton Oaks proposals, but reserves the right to present at a
later date, when its official views are requested, suggestions and
proposals which will “go further” than those put forward in the
present document.
[Page 59]
In general, the Polish Government takes the position that the
Dumbarton Oaks proposals are not, in every respect, an improvement
on the League Covenant, and in this connection, makes specific
reference to the predominance of the Great Powers under the current
proposals, stating that it would “welcome any modifications of the
present Dumbarton Oaks text which would improve the situation of the
smaller states and assure to them a role corresponding with their
rights, interests and place in the world”. To this end, the
principal changes proposed in the Polish memorandum are:
- 1.
- Increase in the number of non-permanent seats on the
Security Council to ten;
- 2.
- Adoption of a majority rule, including a majority of the
permanent members, for council decisions (it is stated,
however, that the application of the principle of unanimity
would not be “unwelcome”, provided this includes the
non-permanent members);
- 3.
- Denial of a vote to any state party to a dispute before
the Security Council or to any state accused of failing to
act in accordance with the provisions of the Charter;
- 4.
- Obligatory representation of states not members of the
Security Council when matters specially affecting their
interest are under consideration by the council;
- 5.
- Removal of all limitations on the right of the General
Assembly to discuss any question referred to it by a member
state or by the Security Council;
- 6.
- Restoration of rights and privileges of suspended members
to rest with the General Assembly on the recommendation of
the Security Council;
- 7.
- Representation on the Military Staff Committee of member
states, other than the Great Powers, whose permanent
collaboration with the staff committee is deemed necessary
by the Security Council.
Another group of Polish suggestions appears to stem directly from
apprehensions with respect to the future security of Poland. In this
connection, the Polish Government suggests the following changes in
the Dumbarton Oaks proposals:
- 1.
- Deletion from the text of any reference to adjustment of
international situations, restricting the organization’s
activities to international disputes (Chapter I, paragraph
1; Chapter V, Section B, paragraph 6; Chapter VIII, Section
A, paragraphs 1, 2, 5, and 7);
- 2.
- Inclusion in Chapter I of a reference to the aims
enunciated in Article 6 of the Atlantic Charter (all nations
to have the means of dwelling within their own boundaries in
freedom from fear and want);
- 3.
- Amendment of Chapter II to include the principles of
respect for territorial integrity and political independence
and of non-aggrandizement and non-intervention;
- 4.
- Amendment of Chapter II to include respect for treaty
obligations and repeated reference to this principle in
connection with the admission of new members (Chapter V,
Section B, paragraph 2) and pacific settlement (Chapter
VIII, Section A, paragraphs 1, 3, and 4);
- 5.
- Express recognition in Chapter II of the right of any
state to oppose unauthorized use of force against it,
subject to immediate reference to the organization;
- 6.
- Limitation of the assistance pledged the organization in
Chapter II, paragraph 5 and Chapter VIII, Section B,
paragraph 5 to that compatible with political independence
and economic resources;
- 7.
- Deletion of all provisions with respect to disarmament and
the regulation of armaments (the Polish draft, however, has
only deleted these provisions from Chapter V, Section
B);
- 8.
- Investigation of disputes by the Security Council, under
Chapter VIII, Section A, to be contingent upon the request
of a party to the dispute, and one party to a dispute to
have the express right to request the council to give effect
to the resulting settlement, award or judgment if the other
party fails to observe it (omission of paragraph 2, Section
A, Chapter VIII in the Polish draft deletes all reference to
the General Assembly in this section);
- 9.
- Amendment of Chapter VIII, Section B, paragraph 7 to
exclude from the procedures provided in this section
disputes which concern the territorial status of member
states;
- 10.
- Deletion of the last sentence of paragraph 1, Section C,
Chapter VIII, relative to the settlement of local disputes
regionally.
Two other significant amendments to the Dumbarton Oaks proposals
advocated by the Polish memorandum are:
- 1.
- Inclusion of the Economic and Social Council among the
principal organs enumerated in Chapter IV.
- 2.
- No provision for expulsion (Chapter V, Section B,
paragraph 3: Section C, paragraph 2).
