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  4. Document 715

Department of the Army Files: Telegram

No. 715
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Hurley)

secret
urgent
[Babelsberg,] July 27, 1945.

Victory 375. The Governments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom and United States of America have agreed that, in order to provide appropriate machinery for dealing in an expeditious manner with peace negotiations and territorial settlements arising from the present war, it would be desirable to establish a Council of Foreign Ministers charged with this responsibility. We are of the view that this Council should, in order that it may represent those nations having the broadest interest in the peace settlements in Europe and Asia, be composed of the Foreign Ministers of those States which, in accordance with the decision of the San Francisco Conference, are to have permanent seats on the Security Council of the United Nations.1 The text of the proposal approved by the three Governments here at Potsdam is as follows:

[Here follows the text of the attachment to document No. 714.]

Pursuant to this agreement, it gives the three Governments represented here great pleasure to invite the Government of China to become a member of the Council of Foreign Ministers described above and to participate in its work. We are convinced that our association with China in this new body which will be charged with such important functions in establishing a stable peace will offer an essential and fruitful introduction to our future association as permanent members of the Security Council.2

We expect to give you authorization within a day or so to present, in concert with your British and Soviet colleagues,3 the foregoing invitation to President Chiang Kai-shek and to obtain his acceptance. Please do so immediately upon receipt of authorization in order that your telegraphic notification of Chiang’s acceptance may be in our hands before the conclusion of the Conference. If it is not possible to concert your action with that of your colleagues you are authorized to proceed alone without delay.

  1. See article 23 of the Charter of the United Nations, signed at San Francisco, June 26, 1945 (Treaty Series No. 993; 59 Stat. (2) 1031).↩
  2. For the parallel invitation to France, see document No. 1395.↩
  3. Sir Horace Seymour and Appolon Alexandrovich Petrov, British and Soviet Ambassadors to China, respectively.↩