IMPORTANT

PEACE CONFERENCE

Invitations are being sent out today by French Government to the
17 nations [1], accompanied by memorandum on suggested
organisation and procedure. While provision of rules of procedure
was insisted on by Soviet delegate, it has now been agreed that
the conference will be free to alter or amend the rules which will
be presented.

2. Suggested organisation and procedure is as follows:

(a) Plenary conference of 21 nations to study and make
recommendations on draft peace treaties for Italy, Balkan States
and Finland. On substantive questions a two-thirds rule to apply.

On procedural questions simple majority suffices.

(b) General Commission of 21 composed of representatives from each
delegation. This commission will act as a coordinating committee,
with powers and duties still to be allotted. Two-thirds majority
required to carry decisions.

(c) 5 Political Commissions, one for each of the enemy States of
Finland, Italy, Bulgaria, Roumania and Hungary. There will be a
delegate on each Commission from each member of the United Nations
at war with the enemy state in question. Voting procedure is as
follows: in general two-thirds rule will apply but minority has
right to present its views to full conference. Where two-thirds
majority is not attained reports of conflicting views will be
submitted to full conference for decision. Final recommendations
of Peace Conference must be voted by two-thirds majority.

(d) Two Economic Commissions, with duties still to be defined.

3. Australia being at war with each enemy State concerned is
entitled to act on each Political Commission and presumably each
of the two Economic Commissions. This will to some extent indicate
the number of personnel required for the delegation.

HODGSON