Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, General: The United Nations, Volume I

500.CC/4–1045: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

Washington, April 23, 1945—1 p.m.

3192. At the Yalta Conference consideration was specifically given on President Roosevelt’s initiative to the question as to whether Denmark should be represented at UNCIO by an observer⁷⁰ (Embassy’s No. 3647, April 10, 6 p.m.⁷¹). Because of British and Soviet objection this was decided in the negative. It was further decided that only the United Nations should be represented and that no provision should be made for observers from any other state. In view of these decisions and in the absence any proposal from the other sponsoring governments that it be reversed, we do not intend to transmit the request of the Freedom Council or otherwise to raise the issue during the conversations here with Eden, Molotov, and Soong.

Mr. Kauffmann⁷² has already been informed that President Roosevelt suggested at Yalta that Denmark should be represented at UNCIO, as at previous United Nations Conferences, by an observer, but was opposed by Churchill with the concurrence of Stalin. We have pointed out to him that the decision concerning invitations was taken by all four sponsoring governments and that the United States as host Government issued the invitation on behalf of all four sponsors. Since any change in this policy would obviously have to be made by all four sponsoring governments, responsibility in this matter does not rest, as the Foreign Office erroneously informed you, with this Government alone.

Please convey this information to the Foreign Office.

This message is being repeated to Stockholm as No. 731.

Stettinius

70. See Conferences at Malta and Yalta, pp. 774–775.
71. Not printed; it concerned a request by the Freedom Council of Denmark for representation at the San Francisco Conference.
72. Henrik de Kauffmann, Danish Minister in the United States, was informed by Acting Secretary Grew, in a letter of March 6, that “no observers from countries which are not adherents to the United Nations Declaration will be invited to the Conference”. He was subsequently informed by Mr. Grew that exclusion of Denmark was not based on a decision of the American Government but on an agreement reached at the Yalta Conference (500.CC/3–545).