Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

840.811/8–1648: Telegram

The Ambassador in Yugoslavia (Cannon) to the Secretary of State

us urgent

Belgrade, August 16, 1948.

Deldu75. From Dustmann for Michael McDermott and Dunning. Summary of Cannon’s remarks in declining serve on drafting committee Danube Conference August 16:

Inasmuch as English excluded as official language, it shows little tact to propose US for drafting committee to prepare official document conference.

Czechoslovak delegate replied it mistake to employ word “excluded” in referring to English. USDel emphasized English had been “excluded” since at opening session he specifically asked it be included as official language and this request rejected. Conference already demonstrated how difficult it be for US to do satisfactory work on drafting committee of conference where words meant different things to different delegates.

After further debate, USDel replied could not understand how anyone could reproach USDel for declining participate drafting committee. Pointed out that majority had already virtually accepted text convention and that work drafting committee therefore purely mechanical. Some delegates, he stated, have already accepted Soviet text in toto. Therefore, no real labor for drafting committee. Principal job is give article numbers to four new Soviet amendments. He suggested it would been more appropriate discuss these in course of debate and said did not understand why they shoved it in at last moment.¹ USDel pointed out he had agreed serve on credentials committee, adding this acceptance certainly demonstrated USDel indeed doing share work with others delegates. He said he not like slur cast on USDel [by] word “unwilling”, which meant that US not willing work with conference. It especially inappropriate, he said, that USDel should be asked serve this particular committee and added he had given rich reasons for that opinion. [Dustmann.]

Cannon

1. According to the report sent in telegram Deldu 79 from Belgrade at midnight on August 17, 1948, the four new Soviet articles which had been introduced earlier were voted upon without discussion at the morning session of the General Committee on that day. They were adopted by votes of 7 in favor, with 1 abstention (United States), and 2 not participating (United Kingdom and France). (840.811/8–1748) These four new articles became Articles VII, XIX, XVII, and XLIV, respectively, in the final convention adopted at the Belgrade conference.