United Nations Security Council Meeting 2

by United Nations Security Council

SECOND MEETING

Held at Church House, Westminster, London, on Friday, 25 January 1946, at 3 p.m.

President: Mr. N. J. O. Makin (Australia).

Present: The representatives of the following countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, United States of America.

8. Adoption of directive to the Military Staff Committee to meet at a given place and date^[1]

The President: We will proceed with the consideration of item 8 of the agenda.^[2] Has any member of the Council a resolution to propose regarding item 8, the directive to the Military Staff Committee? Then I take it there is no objection to the adoption of item 8 of the agenda.

Mr. Stettinius (United States of America): I move the adoption of the draft directive calling on the Military Staff Committee to meet in London prior to 1 February.

The President: You have heard the recommendation made by the representative of the United States of America. Are there any observations that any member would wish to make?

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom): I second the resolution.

The President: I take it that the resolution is acceptable to the Council?

Mr. Vyshinsky (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (translated from Russian): I wish to inform the Security Council that the Soviet Government has appointed the following three persons as its representatives on the Military Staff Committee: Lieutenant-General Vasilev, Vice-Admiral Bogdenko, and Major-General of Aviation Sharapov.

According to my information, they should arrive in London by about 1 February. I would therefore ask for the first meeting to be called immediately after the 1st, on 2 or 3 February, if they do not arrive in London before 1 February. If on the other hand they arrive by the 1st, there would be no objection on our part to a meeting on that date.

The President: Has any other member of the Council any observations to make in regard to the item that is the subject of consideration? You have heard the submission by the representative of the United States of America. Does the Council agree now to vote upon the matter?

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom): I should like to ask whether it is not possible to get them here by 1 February; or, if they have got to consider organizational problems arising under this part of the Charter, I wonder whether they would be able to do it and report before the conference finishes. I should hope that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics would get its representatives here by 1 February.

The President: I would point out to the representative of the United Kingdom that there is no conference actually; this Council is in permanent session.

Mr. Wellington Koo (China): The Chinese Government has appointed General Shang Chen, Chief of Staff to the Generalissimo, as its representative on the Military Staff Committee. He will be accompanied by military, naval and air advisers. They left on 23 January, and there is every reason to expect that they will arrive before 1 February.

As regards the date, therefore, we are quite ready to accept 1 February; but, in view of the possibility that the USSR representatives may arrive just on that day, I wondered whether or not we could amend the proposal of the United States representative by making it “not later than 2 February”. That, perhaps, would meet the possibility that the Soviet representatives may arrive too late for a meeting on 1 February, a possibility which, of course, may not materialize. We should then be able to meet on 1 February if they had arrived, and, if not, on 2 February.

Mr. Paul-Boncour (France) (translated from French): The French delegation willingly accepts the suggested date of 1 February. We shall submit the names of our military experts later.

Mr. Stettinius (United States of America): If it so happens that the military representatives of the USSR do not arrive by 1 February, of course they may ask for an adjournment of a day, but I think it would be best that we agree that our target date be 1 February.

Mr. Vyshinsky (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (translated from Russian): Subject to a postponement of a day or two if our representatives do not arrive in time, I agree that the meeting be called for 1 February. For my part I will today take all possible measures to ensure their arrival here by 1 February, but weather conditions between Moscow and London are sometimes unfavourable.

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom): I think I can assure the representative of the USSR that the British Government will do its best to dispel the fog before 1 February.

Mr. Vyshinsky (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (translated from Russian): And I hope that the British Government will make the greatest effort, because, as is widely known, London has more fogs.

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom): Political and otherwise.

The President: I take it that the proposal of the representative of the United States of America is, therefore, adopted.

The directive to the Military Staff Committee to meet in London before February was adopted.

9. Discussion of the composition and organization of the staff to be assigned to the Security Council under the Charter, Article 101, paragraphs 1 and 2.

The President: Until such time as the appointment of the Secretary-General has been dealt with, it might be desirable to defer consideration of item 9 of the agenda. If there are no objections I shall, therefore, defer consideration of item 9 until a later time.

Consideration of item 9 was deferred.

10. Discussion of the best means of arriving at the conclusion of the special agreements referred to in the Charter, Article 43.

The President: Item 10 is one that concerns the Military Staff Committee. I would ask members of the Council whether they may not feel it desirable that we should deal with item 10 as we have done with item 9, that is, defer it until a later time when the Military Staff Committee may possibly have met.

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom): Would not the Military Staff Committee need some guidance from the Council?

Mr. Stettinius (United States of America): I feel that it is extremely premature for the Council to deal with this matter before the Military Staff Committee is organized. I think it should organize itself, and the various delegations will obviously want to have conferences with their own military representatives. Perhaps at a later meeting of the Council we shall wish to discuss the matter here; certainly on policy questions, but I do not think there is anything to be gained by discussion of this subject at today's meeting.

The President: Does any other member of the Council wish to speak? Take it, then, that item 10 is deferred until a later time when it may be the subject of further consideration by the Council.

Consideration of item 10 was deferred.

11. Reception and consideration of reports and recommendations (if any) from the General Assembly

The President: With regard to item 11, there are no reports to be considered at this stage.

12. Consideration of the submission of a special report (if any) to the General Assembly (Charter, Article 24, paragraph 3)

The President: With regard to item 12 of the agenda, there is nothing for the moment that we have to submit to the General Assembly in any special report.

13. Election of the members of the international Court of Justice (Statute, Articles 4, 7 to 12, 14)

The President: With regard to item 13 of the agenda, the Council may desire to leave this item until a later stage of our meetings. Are there any observations that anybody wishes to make in regard to the proposal to defer this item until a later time?

Badawi Pasha (Egypt): I think it should be dealt with at the same time as it is brought before the General Assembly.

The President: I believe, also, that the Preparatory Commission requested that it be left as late as possible in our proceedings.

I take it, therefore, that members are in agreement that this item should be left until a later stage in our proceedings.

Consideration of item 13 was deferred.

14. Communications to the Security Council

The President: I bring to the notice of the Council certain communications that have been received. I will take them in chronological order, as they have been received.

The first one is a letter from the Head of the Iranian delegation to Mr. Jebb.^[3] The full text of this communication is reported in the Journal. All members of the Council, I presume, have received a copy and have duly noted it.

The second one is a letter, addressed to myself, from the Acting Head of the USSR. delegation, regarding the question of the situation in Greece.^[4]

The third is a communication, addressed to myself, that I have received from the Head of the delegation of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic dealing with the situation in Indonesia.^[5]

There has also been distributed to members of the Council a letter that has been received from the Head of the USSR delegation in reply to the first communication from the Iranian Government.^[6]

Taking now the first in order, the letter which has been received from the Iranian delegation and the reply to this letter, I should like to ask whether it is the pleasure of the Council that this item shall be included in the agenda of the Council. Are there any observations to be made in regard to the question of the inclusion of this item in the agenda of the Security Council? I take it that, since there are no objections, this item is included in the agenda of the Security Council.

The item was included in the agenda.

Mr. Vyshinsky (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (translated from Russian): There is one point I would like to clarify: that is the inclusion of the Iranian question in the Security Council's agenda. Does this mean consideration of the substance of the question or discussion as to whether it should come before the Council at all?

If this item is placed on the agenda so that we may discuss whether the question should be considered, then I have no objection to its inclusion on the agenda for the next meeting. I should like to explain my reasons. The Soviet delegation, on the authority of the Soviet Government that has put forward reasons proving that the statement of the Iranian Government should not be considered by the Security Council.

It therefore seems to me that we should, in the first place, thoroughly discuss this matter, and, as the Chairman suggests, the Soviet delegation should in any case have the opportunity at the next meeting of putting forward its reasons why this question should not be considered by the Security Council.

The President: In answer to the representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, I should like to say that the inclusion of the item in this agenda does give an opportunity for the Council to have a discussion, and that the USSR could, at the initial stage of that discussion, make such proposal as it might think proper. The inclusion would not deny to the USSR representative the opportunity of being able to move in whatever direction he might wish.

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom) (translated from English): I am very anxious, in all these cases, that complainants should be heard by the Council, whoever they may be. I think it is a mistake if a Government feels that, having a complaint against another Power, whether it be great or small, it cannot come to this Council and state its case. While the Government I represent has been included in subsequent charges of endangering peace, in so far as I am principally responsible or at least my Government is principally responsible, in the case of Greece, I shall offer no objection to the fullest investigation and discussion. In fact, I am so tired of these charges made by the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in private assembly that no one will be happier than I shall be to see them brought out into the open and to see that the British Government has a chance to clear its conduct in connection with this country.

If there is a complaint by the Iranian Government against the Government of the USSR, then I think that the Iranian Government should be given a chance to come to the table and state its case. Then we should be in a position to judge whether or not its case is justified. I would like it to go on the agenda, and to have a discussion in the open, because I believe that peace depends upon bringing these facts out before the world, whether they are right or whether they are wrong.

With regard to Indonesia, that is primarily a matter for the Dutch Government. There is a situation in which we are clearing up a condition arising out of the war, of disarming Japanese who have trained a crowd of people who are mainly fascists and who are resisting the disarming of the Japanese soldiers and following a policy which is on a rather different footing. That is a situation which must be argued by the Government primarily responsible.

The President: I am reluctant to intervene, but I should like to suggest that the representative of the United Kingdom to, at the moment, there is no item which makes his remarks quite regular.

The last question was by the USSR delegation with regard to the procedure to be adopted relating to the item that has just been included in the agenda. That had already been carried. I was now going to proceed with the submission of the second item, which, of course, is the item dealing with the complaint of the reprehension of Greece. I can submit that now to the Council, and the remarks of the representative of the United Kingdom then would be strictly in order.

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom): But I should like to know what has been carried.

The President: I submitted to the Council that the matter contained in the letter from the Iranian delegation should be included as an item in the agenda of this Council. I asked for such comment as the Council might have, and it will be remembered that I indicated, after a slight lapse of time, that the item had been carried.

Subsequently, the Head of the Soviet delegation submitted to me a question in regard to whether it would have the right to be able to express its views upon this particular matter, and to take such action as it might wish when the matter is discussed or brought forward to the Council. I indicated that the delegation would have a full opportunity of offering such observations as it might wish and moving in such way as it might feel best served its own views of the matter.

That is how the matter rests, Mr. Bevin.

Mr. Stettinius (United States of America): I think the situation would be clarified in all our minds if we could agree on the question of these cases being put on the agenda for discussion at the next meeting of the Council.

While I am speaking, I wish to make very clear that the United States Government believes that any Member country of the United Nations which makes a complaint has a right to be heard at this table.

The President: The representative of the United States of America has submitted that each of these items that have been received—the correspondence from the delegation of Iran, from the delegation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and from the delegation of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic—should be listed as items on the agenda for consideration at the next meeting.

Mr. Stettinius (United States of America): I make that motion.

Badawi Pasha (Egypt): May I remark that Article 31 of the Charter relating to the Security Council states that "Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question brought before the Security Council whenever the latter considers that the interests of that Member are specially affected"?

Surely, there is more reason when the question brought before the Council is brought before it at the instance of a certain Member of the United Nations, That would certainly be a case much stronger than the one provided for by Article 31, and the presence of such complaining States would be considered as absolutely necessary.

The President: I was about to raise that particular point. If you remember, I made some request to the representative of the United States of America as to whether he wished to have that included in the resolution, but that can be a matter for subsequent decision by the Council. I shall now submit to the Council the resolution which has been placed before the Council, that the representative of the United States by these items shall be listed on the agenda of the Council and shall be the business for the next meeting of the Council.

Mr. van Kleffens (Netherlands): The representative of the United Kingdom has just said that a third question, concerning the actions of British and Japanese troops in Java, is primarily a question concerning the Netherlands Government, which I have the honour to represent. I want to say that we, on our part, have no objection to that question, as worded, being included in the agenda of the next meeting.

Mr. Vyshinsky (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (translated from Russian): I should like to avoid possible misunderstanding with regard to procedure. Every Member of the United Nations has undoubtedly the right to be heard by the Security Council. I am raising no objection to that. I only wish to bring to the Security Council's notice that the mere fact of discussing this or that complaint should not prejudice the question as to whether or not the Security Council will consider the declaration under discussion. That is what I wished to say.

The President: I take it now that members of the Council are agreed that these items should be included in the agenda for the next meeting of the Security Council? Does any member of the Council wish to submit a subsequent resolution about the presence of ...

Badawi Pasha (Egypt): I think that should be moved. I move it.

Mr. Stettinius (United States of America): What is the motion?

Badawi Pasha (Egypt): That the States which have presented complaints should be invited to participate in the work, in the sittings of the Security Council.

The President: It will affect Iran, of course, and may indirectly affect Greece. The other nations are, of course, represented on the Security Council.

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom): In view of the fact that Greece will be affected, and that the State concerned has put no complaint, Greece must be heard.

The President: Do I take it that the resolution made by the representative of Egypt is adopted?

The resolution was adopted.

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom): I am a little puzzled. Does that include Greece?

The President: Yes, Mr. Stettinius made a comprehensive resolution covering all the items in the correspondence.

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom): Thank you very much.

The President: Now it will be necessary for the members of the Council to determine the date and time of its next meeting.

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom): There is one point I want to put to you, Mr. President. I assume that when the case is on the agenda and we have heard it, it will then be subject to discussion. Is that clear?

The President: The position is this. It is for the Council itself to determine the procedure that it wishes to adopt in regard to this matter, that is, whether it wishes to proceed to a discussion or to take any other action it might wish.

Mr. Bevin (United Kingdom): I am awfully sorry to be persistent. I think it ought to be settled now that, when we have heard the case, it is then open to discussion as to whether we should dispose of the matter or whether we should take any other steps to settle it. I do not want the situation to arise that, after we have gone through all the performance of hearing the case, somebody says that the Council cannot discuss it.

I want the facts placed on the table and the Council to be free to discuss the case and arrive at a means of disposing of it in some way or another, and I want all countries concerned to be heard.

The President: In answer to the representative of the United Kingdom, I want to say that the Security Council will be quite competent at its next meeting either to proceed to a discussion, if it so wishes, or to take any action that it might wish in regard to it. But of course, as you will realize in regard to whatever may be the nature of the resolution submitted, the question of the method of voting would be actually the subject of some difference; but it will be for the Council itself when it meets to determine just how it shall treat this particular subject. By its own resolution it will be able to determine how it will proceed to the consideration of these questions.

15. Albanian application for membership of the United Nations

The President: I feel that I should intimate to the members of the Council that I have just received a communication^[7] from the Yugoslav Government or delegation regarding the application of Albania for membership of the United Nations. This communication is in the course of being typed so that it can be distributed to members of the Council; as soon as that is possible, it will be done. This might possibly be the subject of some consideration at our next meeting as to whether it should be included in the agenda.

Mr. Vyshinsky (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (translated from Russian): The Soviet delegation supports the Albanian Government's request and the Yugoslav delegation's proposal, and suggests that this question be placed on the agenda for the next meeting on Monday.

The President: The only difficulty in regard to that is that this item has not as yet been actually circulated among members of the Council. Therefore, members are not really fully aware of the text of the communication that has been received.

As to the suggestion of the representative of the USSR that at this moment it be placed upon the agenda, it might possibly be more appropriate if it could be left until the next meeting. Then members would be fully apprised of the nature of the text of that communication.

Mr. Stettinius (United States of America): May I suggest that we deal with the question of new membership as a whole later on, at one meeting rather than piecemeal? I am sure there are a number of delegations which have statements to make relative to new membership, and I think it would be much better to deal with the subject in toto.

The President: I would suggest that the representative of the United States to whom we receive a communication such as this, it cannot possibly be ignored, but must be dealt with expeditiously. Therefore, I feel we are under an obligation to receive this communication and deal with it, since governments have been prompted to make their application in proper order. Therefore, I think it would be quite proper that this matter might be brought to the attention of the Council on Monday, and then we could decide whether it be included in the agenda for consideration on that day or some subsequent day.

Mr. Modzelewski (Poland) (translated from French): I wish to support the request of the Yugoslav Government that Albania be admitted to the United Nations. And the more so because, as the representative of France has pointed out to us in his recent declaration, there are still thirteen States in Europe which are not yet Members of the Organization. Therefore, I should like this subject to be included in the agenda of the Security Council.

The President: This item will be the subject of consideration at the next meeting of the Council. At that stage any member of the Security Council will be quite in order in submitting his own approval or otherwise of the adoption of this particular communication.

Any further business?

The Council stands adjourned until Monday at 3 p.m.

The meeting rose at 4:10 p.m.

1. See Official Records of the Security Council, First Year: First Series, Supplement No. 1, Annex 1, sec. 3.
2. For the agenda for the first meetings, see pages 1 and 2.
3. See Official Records of the Security Council, First Year, First Series, Supplement No. 1, Annex 2.
4. Ibid., Supplement No.1, Annex 3.
5. See Official Records of the Security Council, First Year, First Series, Supplement No. 1; Annex 4.
6. Ibid., Supplement No. 1; Annex 2A.
7. See Official Record of the Security Council, First Year, First Series, Supplement No. 1, Annex 5.