Council of Foreign Ministers Files: Lot M–88: CFM London Decisions
Record of Decisions of the Twenty Second Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, Lancaster House, London, September 26, 1945, 11 a.m.
Present
| U.K. | U.S.A | U.S.S.R |
| Mr. Bevin | Mr. Byrnes | M. Molotov (Chairman) |
| Sir R. I. Campbell | Mr. J. Dunn | M. F. T. Gousev |
| Sir A. Clark Kerr | Mr. B. V. Cohen | M. K. V. Novikov |
| Mr. A. Duff Cooper | Mr. J. F. Dulles | M. S. A. Golunski |
| Mr. C. E. Bohlen | M. V. N. Pavlov |
| France | China |
| M. Bidault | Dr. Wang Shih Chieh |
| M. Couve de Murville | Dr. Wellington Koo |
| General Catroux | Dr. Victor Hoo |
| M. Alphand | Dr. Hollington Tong |
| Mr. Yang Yun Chu |
1. Press Communiqué on 20th and 21st Meetings35
M. Molotov drew attention to the communiqué on the work of the Council on 25th September, which read as follows:—
“The Council of Foreign Ministers met twice to-day (Tuesday), M. Bidault presiding in the morning and Mr. Bevin in the afternoon.
The Council continued its consideration of the memorandum by the Soviet Delegation on the acceleration of the repatriation of Soviet nationals and the repatriation of French nationals from areas under the control of the Soviet Government.
The Council also examined proposals put forward by the Soviet Delegation for expediting the work of the Reparations Commission. A French memorandum on restitution was also discussed.
The next meeting of the Council will be held at 11 o’clock to-morrow (Wednesday) morning”.
M. Molotov said that the Soviet Delegation regarded this as inaccurate and proposed that a revised communiqué should be issued in the following terms:— [Page 385]
“In view of the fact that there were inaccuracies in the communiqué of 25th September, it was decided in the Council of Foreign Ministers to publish instead of the said communiqué the following communiqué:—
[‘]The Council of Foreign Ministers met twice today. M. Bidault presided at the morning meeting and Mr. Bevin at the afternoon meeting. The Council continued its discussion of the proposal of the Soviet Delegation to bring up for its discussions the question of setting up an Allied Control Council in Japan.
The Council examined and approved proposals for the acceleration of the repatriation of Soviet nationals. The Council also accepted the proposals of the Soviet Delegation for speeding up the work of the Reparations Commission. It was decided that the memorandum of the French Delegation on restitution should be considered at the next meeting[’].”
After discussion, it was agreed that, if any revised communiqué was to be issued, the text should read as follows:—
“The Council of Foreign Ministers today considered the communiqué of 25th September and decided to publish the following amended text which represents more accurately the decisions taken at their meetings yesterday.
The Council of Foreign Ministers met twice on 25th September. M. Bidault presided at the morning meeting and Mr. Bevin at the afternoon meeting.
The Council examined proposals for the acceleration of the repatriation of Soviet nationals. The Council accepted the proposals of the Soviet Delegation for speeding up the work of the Reparations Commission in Germany. It was decided that the memorandum of the French Delegation on restitution should be considered at the next meeting”.
The Council were not agreed on the advisability of publishing a revised communiqué in these terms.
In these circumstances M. Molotov reserved his right to issue a separate statement to the Press giving the Soviet Delegation’s account of the proceedings at the Council’s meetings on 25th September.36 Mr. Bevin also reserved his right to make a separate statement to the Press.
[Page 386]2. Restitution
The Council considered proposals by the French and Soviet Delegations regarding the restitution by Germany of property belonging to the United Nations or their nationals.
The Council agreed to resume consideration of this matter at their meeting on the following morning.
- At their 28th meeting, September 29, 1945, the Council reviewed this record of decisions and agreed that on this subject the Record of Decisions should be revised to read as follows: “M. Molotov proposed the issue of a revised communiqué on the work of the Council on the 25th September. The Council were not agreed on the advisability of publishing a communiqué revised and agreed by the Council.” This text of the revised record quoted here is from the British minutes of the 28th meeting (Council of Foreign Ministers Files: Lot M–88: CFM London Minutes).↩
- The Moscow newspaper Izvestia, the organ of the Soviet Government, carried the following item on September 27, 1945: “In the opinion of circles near the Soviet Delegation, the communiqué of September 25 on the work of the Council of Foreign Ministers in London contained certain inaccuracies, which apparently are to be explained by the haste of publication. This led to the fact, as now explained, that the communiqué of September 25 was not published in the Soviet press. If these inaccuracies are to be rectified, it would be necessary to say that the Council of Foreign Ministers held two sessions on September 25; Mr. Bidault presided at the morning session and Mr. Bevin at the afternoon session. The Council examined proposals for the acceleration of the repatriation of Soviet nationals. The Council accepted the proposal of the Soviet Delegation regarding the acceleration of the work of the Reparations Commission in Germany. It was decided that the memorandum of the French Delegation on restitution should be considered at the next meeting.”↩