500.CC/3–2445: Circular telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Representatives 29
Please indicate to the government to which you are accredited that the Government of the United States is thinking along the following [Page 157] lines with regard to certain questions of organization and procedure at the San Francisco Conference:
1. Conference Structure
The Conference would, meet initially in plenary session during which the organization of the Conference would be determined. We believe that it would be desirable for the Conference to resolve itself into four or five principal commissions.
The Commissions would agree upon their own agenda and such general discussions as might be desirable after which they would resolve themselves into committees, totaling probably ten or twelve, and such subcommittees as may be deemed necessary. As is customary most of the discussion and drafting would take place in the committees and subcommittees.
2. Officers and Standing Committees of the Conference
It is believed that the officers of the Conference, including those of the commissions and committees should be selected on as widely representative basis as possible.
Determinations of policy and decisions on matters of special importance relating to Conference arrangements might be entrusted to a Steering Committee composed of me Chairmen of the delegations. There might be established also an Executive Committee of probably eleven members.
3. Information Policy
In answer to numerous inquiries this Government has indicated publicly its confidence that the Conference will adopt a liberal information policy.30 We have expressed the view that the plenary sessions and the meetings of the full commissions should be open to representatives of the press and to the members of the public so far as space will permit. This is the policy followed successfully at recent international conferences.
It is anticipated that the Conference will have a Press Office staffed by experienced press relations officials and assisted by representatives of the delegations.
Considering such factors as are now known this Government is formulating its plans on the basis that the Conference will be in session from four to eight weeks.
Please emphasize to the government to which you are accredited that the foregoing observations are of a tentative character and that the Government of the United States will welcome any comments which the other participating governments may wish to offer.
A special circular follows outlining preliminary information on physical arrangements at San Francisco and special facilities to be extended to the delegations in connection with the Conference.31
- The diplomatic representatives in Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Syria, Turkey, Union of South Africa, United Kingdom (for the American Ambassador and also for the Missions to Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, Norway and Yugoslavia), Uruguay, the Soviet Union, and Venezuela.↩
- For statement by the Secretary of State, March 15, on proposed procedure regarding press, radio, and motion pictures, see Department of State, Bulletin, March 18, 1945, p. 435.↩
- UNCIO doc. No. 4, March 24, 7 p.m., not printed.↩