1. The Executive Committee has now completed consideration of the
memorandum on methods of work and terms of reference for its
technical sub-committees. Slow progress was due mainly to long
debates on:-

(a) Composition of the Interim Secretariat.

(b) Consultation with existing international organisations and,
(c) Admission of the Press to Committee meetings.

2. Discussion on the Interim Secretariat was important insofar as
it foreshadowed possible future differences over the creation of a
truly international Secretariat for United Nations. The Soviet
Delegation, while not disclosing their own views, clearly opposed
several proposals designed to ensure efficient Secretariat,
independent of national control and chosen from among all
nationals of United Nations in accordance with principles in
paragraph 3 of Charter. The United Kingdom now places a very high
value on the creation of a competent International Secretariat to
ensure success of United Nations. Australia supported them
strongly following the line of our Delegation at San Francisco. A
satisfactory statement on the method of organising the Interim
Secretariat has been accepted.

3. Debate on proposals for consultation with existing
International organisations was similarly prolonged by Soviet
opposition. Their objections were mainly against any use being
made of the League of Nations but it was argued against them that
the Executive Committee had definite obligations to transfer
certain functions of the League and should also make use of
technical experience of League officials in various fields. In
keeping with paragraph 2 of Interim agreement it was eventually
agreed that Executive Committee should make use of special
knowledge and experience of and take evidence from qualified
International organisations. The sub-committees may also avail
themselves of special knowledge and experience of qualified
National organisations or individuals. This formula was only
accepted after many hours debate overcoming Soviet objections. The
United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands were leading
proponents of this formula with occasional support from
Czechoslovakia, France and Brazil.

4. The United Kingdom has made repeated efforts to ensure
admission of the Press to full meetings of the Committee but the
majority including the United States and Soviet Union have been
against. We favoured fullest possible freedom for the Press.

5. The Committee has now drafted terms of reference for 10
subcommittees adding a new sub-committee on court and legal
problems. Sub committees on assembly, economic and social council,
court, secretariat, relations with specialised agencies, League of
Nations and general questions should commence work at the coming
weekend. Subcommittees on security council, trusteeship council
and finance have been deferred for about 3 weeks.

6. During preliminary discussions it has become clear that under
the new Government the United Kingdom is ready to make individual
stand on points of principle such as those outlined above and is
less likely to worship 5 power unanimity at any cost. They are
also more sympathetic to the place of lesser powers in the
organisation. In personal conversation yesterday Noel Baker who
was associated with foundation of League expressed to me the
definite view that the United Nations could not succeed on 'Five
power basis' alone and he regarded emphasis on the five powers in
the charter as weakness. The security provisions amounted simply
to military alliance and in a real crisis the alliance would end.

A more soundly based system must be evolved. He also expressed the
definite view that the assembly must be an active deliberation
body. The United Kingdom Delegation on the Executive Committee
will work to ensure that the first assembly is a success. These
personal views, which of course cannot be quoted, are reported in
support of my impression on the Committee that the United Kingdom
views on World Organisation are undergoing a change.

7. One subject which the United Kingdom proposes should be raised
at early sessions of United Nations is trade in arms. Following
the lines of your Sydney statement 24th August on the Atomic Bomb
[1] I would suggest that we must also consider that means of
bringing urgent armaments question before assembly and council.

8. Discussion has also revealed that several delegations are in
favour of bringing urgent questions in the social and economic
field before initial sessions of the appropriate organisations of
the United Nations. The Australian Delegation took a leading part
in this discussion and eventually the Australian formula was
adopted adding the following words to the terms of reference for
economic and social sub-committee, 'This sub-committee should also
consider what action is necessary under the provisions of the
Charter to deal with urgent problems in the economic, social,
cultural, educational, health and related fields and what priority
should be given to these problems'. Consequently we should be
ready to place suggestions before the sub-committee, recognising
however that the Executive Committee's function is limited to
preparing agenda and documents and that it can [2] the United
States Delegation, represented at most meetings by officials, has
been apparently hampered by necessity of obtaining Washington
instructions. Stettinius arrives tomorrow.