740.0011 Moscow/10–1943
The British Embassy to the
Department of State
Conference Document No. 23
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Government have addressed to the Soviet Chargé d’Affaires
in London a note, the text of which is attached, proposing that pending
a final post-war settlement the two Governments should agree that
neither of them will negotiate any commitments or agreements with any
other European countries allied with them in the common struggle in
respect of questions covering the peace settlement or the post-war
period, and that the two Governments should consult one
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another whenever necessary so that
observance of this agreement may harmonize with their respective and
joint interests.
His Majesty’s Government regard this as a “draft proposal” in connexion
with Item 5 of the British agenda for the Three-Power Conference, and
His Majesty’s Ambassador in Moscow has been instructed to propose to the
Soviet Government that the matter be placed upon the agenda.
Washington
, October
5, 1943.
[Enclosure]
British Note to the Soviet Chargé Concerning
Question of Agreement Between the Major and Minor Allies on
Post-War Questions
Referring to the aide-mémoire handed to His
Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the
26th July by the Soviet Chargé d’Affaires in London and to further
memorandum sent by Monsieur Sobolev on the 30th August7 concerning the
understanding between His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom
and the Government of the U.S.S.R. not to enter into commitments or
agreements with certain other countries in Europe in respect of
post-war questions, Mr. Eden has the honour, in accordance with the
suggestion of the Government of the U.S.S.R., to propose for the
consideration of the latter an exchange of notes between the two
Governments which he suggests should be in the following terms:
“His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, bearing in
mind the obligation upon themselves and the Soviet
Government under the Anglo-Soviet Treaty of May 26th,
1942,8 to collaborate with regard to
post-war matters, and having regard to the importance of
securing in the final post-war settlement a just balance
between rival views and claims that may be put forward by
other European Governments, consider it in principle
advisable that, pending that settlement, the two Governments
should avoid entering into any commitments or agreements
with other European countries allied with them in the common
struggle relating to the period after the cessation of
hostilities in Europe.
“His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom therefore
propose that pending final post-war settlement, the two
Governments should agree that neither of them will negotiate
any commitments
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or
agreements with any other European countries allied with
them in the common struggle in respect of questions covering
the peace settlement or post-war period. The two Governments
will consult one another whenever necessary so that
observance of this agreement may harmonize with their
respective and joint interests.”
If the Government of the U.S.S.R. accepts this proposal, the present
note and Your Excellency’s reply to that effect will serve to place
on formal record the understanding between the two Governments in
this matter.
Mr. Eden has instructed His Majesty’s Ambassador in Moscow to propose
to the Soviet Government that this matter should be placed upon the
agenda of the Anglo-Soviet-United States Conference, which it is
proposed to hold in Moscow next month.
