Ask the Scholar

{
    "localId": "750274",
    "label": "Foreign Affairs File, 1940-1953: Far Eastern Conference Discussions:  November, 1949",
    "core": "doc",
    "dtoType": "document",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/750274"
}

{
    "id": "750274",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/750274",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Foreign Affairs File, 1940-1953: Far Eastern Conference Discussions:  November, 1949",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/750274",
    "collections": [
        "President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)",
        "Subject Files"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602191/750274/750274-01-001.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602191/750274/750274-01-001.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602191/750274/750274-01-001.jpg",
    "imageCount": 709,
    "hasImages": true,
    "source": "import",
    "hasTranscription": false
}

{
    "url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/750274",
    "naId": 750274,
    "levelOfDescription": "fileUnit",
    "recordType": "description",
    "ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}

{
    "seq": 452,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-psf/602191/750274/750274-01-452.jpg",
    "mediaId": "309b545444b73d7c",
    "ocrText": "TOP SECRET\nG-7\nthe Berlin Conference had provided for participation by\nthe Foreign Ministers on an equal basis, and that this\nrúle was violated by the participation of some of the\nMinisters on a full basis and of others on a restricted\nbasis in the discussion of certain questions (Doc. J,\np. G-29) His intention was that members of the Council\nbe excluded entirely from meetings at which questions\nwere discussed on which they were not entitled to vote.\nThis would exclude China from any degree of participation\nin the European settlements.\nThis interpretation of the Berlin Agreement was not\nin keeping with that held by Secretary Byrnes, and at\nhis request President Truman appealed to Generalissimo\nStalin the same day to instruct Mr. Molotov that he\nshould not permit a breakdown of the conference over\nthe question (Doc. K, p. G-31) In a second message\nto\nMoscow, also sent on September 22, President Truman\nadmitted that under a strict interpretation of the Berlin\nAgreement China could not participate in European dis-\ncussions unless invited to do so under the provision of\nthat agreement which permitted the Council to invite\nother powers to participate when matters directly con-\ncerning them were under discussion. The President, how-\never, stated his recollection that it was agreed during\nthe discussion at Berlin that members of the Council which\nhad not signed the European surrender terms (China and\nin some cases France) could be present and participate\nin the Council's discussions without a vote. He referred\nto the Council's agreement of September 11 and appealed\nto Generalissimo Stalin to regard this as an invitation\nto China and France under the Berlin Agreement (Doc. L,\np. G-32). The Generalissimo's final replyl was a cate-\ngorical endorsement of Mr. Molotov's position (Doc. N,\np. G-35). . In a reply to a similar appeal from Prime\nMinister Attlee (Doc. 0, p. G-36), Generalissimo Stalin\nstated that the Council's decision of September 11 had\nbeen in error and that the Council should not be permitted\nto waive decisions of the Berlin Conference (Doc. P, p.\nG-39).\n1\nFor his interim reply pending consultation with\nMr. Molotov, see Doc. M, p. G-34.\nTOP SECRET"
}