CFM Files
United States Delegation Journal
USDel (PC) (Journal) 19
Following the announcement by the Chairman that the agenda included the approval of the minutes of the previous session,24 the [Page 255] election of a rapporteur and discussion of the method of functioning of the Commission, the Soviet Delegate (General Slavin) proposed a fourth item providing that the Commission should immediately begin actual paragraph by paragraph discussion of the draft treaties. Several delegates opposed, particularly mentioning that the amendments were not due in until tomorrow night, but a motion providing for discussion of the peace treaties as an additional item on the agenda was finally passed by a vote of 18 to 2 with Belgium and Australia opposing and Norway absent.
The next item of business was the election of a rapporteur, which had been held over from the previous session, and the Ethiopian representative was elected by unanimity on the proposal of Mr. Alexander of the U.K. Delegation. Mr. Mehdin stated that he had been designated by the Ethiopian Delegation to fill the position in question.
The Commission then passed to the question of the setting up of subcommittees and the Chairman suggested the desirability of discussing the draft treaties in the Commission first and only referring to subcommittees in case of difficulty. He also suggested that the treaties be taken up in the same order as in the Plenary Sessions, i.e., Italy, Rumania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Finland. Mr. Alexander suggested the setting up of three technical subcommittees and the Yugoslav representatives suggested two committees but General Slavin thought the appointment of any subcommittees whatsoever at this time would only retard the work of the Commission and he proposed beginning discussion of the treaties in the Commission and only taking up the matter of subcommittees in the event that it was necessary. Agreement was finally reached on a compromise proposed by Mr. Alexander to the effect that the setting up of subcommittees should be deferred until the necessity arose but that the various Delegations should have their candidates ready for immediate service. Mr. Alexander also said he was willing to abandon the idea of discussing the Balkan treaties together on the understanding that it would not be considered out of order to discuss similar clauses in other treaties when a particular treaty was under discussion.
Finally, the Representative of the Ukraine raised the question of tabling all documents and translations in sufficient time before their consideration in Commission and Mr. Alexander expanded the idea by moving that all proposals, either by Allies or ex-enemy states, should be tabled in writing in order to save time and that oral explanations would be kept to a minimum. Mr. Hodgson, Australia, stated this whole question was being discussed in the Secretariat, of which he formed a part, and suggested deferring decision until the Secretariat had completed its work. It was agreed that Mr. Hodgson should communicate to the Secretariat the views of the Commission on this point.
[Page 256]The Chairman announced on adjournment that the date of the next meeting would be announced later; certainly it would not be before Thursday.