The main business of the Conference to date has been in the
Steering Committee. Australia secured election to the Executive
Committee of fourteen whose function will be to serve the Steering
Committee by preparing recommendations on major questions of
policy and procedure. We had been omitted from the original list
prepared by the sponsors, and our election resulted from direct
diplomatic measures taken by Evatt in Washington, Paris and London
during the past three weeks. The result is eminently satisfactory
as we finally secured the support of the British, Americans and
Russians. Membership of this important Body will allow us to take
more effective part in the Conference work and we hope the
recognition we have gained will also help towards recognition at a
later stage when the Security Council is selected. It has been
arranged between us that Dr. Evatt will represent Australia on the
Executive Committee while Mr. Forde represents Australia on the
Steering Committee and will exercise the vote but Dr. Evatt will
also attend and will have the right to speak as Minister for
External Affairs whenever necessary.

2. The statement by Mr. Forde at the second public plenary session
was well received by the audience and press and appears to have
had a useful effect on other Delegations. In contrast with the
generalisations of other Delegations the statement was concrete
and definite and gained respect on that account. The statement is
strictly in accord with the attitude taken up in London talks and
in Evatt's public statements. Full text is being forwarded by air
mail and a summary of the main points is given in a separate en
clair telegram. [1]

3. Discussion in the Steering Committee on Russian proposals
regarding joint presidency of the Conference and representation of
Poland at the Conference underlined the basic problem of the Big
Three without introducing any new element. Russia eventually
accepted, with good grace [compromise] [2] by which the Presidency
at the plenary session rotates among the Powers and the four
sponsors delegate authority to the United States to preside at the
business meetings. Unanimous agreement to the admission of Ukraine
and White Russia helped to balance the decision on the Polish
question. Acceptance by the Steering Committee of the Belgian
motion expressing general hope that the Polish Government can be
organised in time to permit representation to San Francisco is
designed to place responsibility for solution of the
reconstruction of the Polish Government fairly and squarely on the
shoulders of the Big Three.

4. Up to date the nature of the work on the Steering Committee has
meant that the greater part of work has necessarily to be done by
the Ministers. The Committee has not been handled well by Chairman
Stettinius with the result that there has been irregular procedure
and delay with undue public emphasis on what are after all
comparatively minor issues. Immediately on arrival at San
Francisco we had a meeting of the whole Australian Delegation and
after reporting on London meetings and discussing the broad issue,
distributed documents for their study including the long
questionnaire we prepared in London. Within the next two or three
days we shall appoint all consultants to the various Committees to
be created by the Conference.