INUTE SHEET.
Reference.......^.11^.../^,
'4>
The points which you have to raise with
Berle about the Declaration are the following: -
1. Inclusioj^rdl5' Luxemburg.
2. Inclusion of phrase about
social security. y
3. Order in which the Dominions
come in the preamble.    What is wanted is to
have all the Dominions grouped together and
presumably in their right order - i.e.
U.K., Canada, Australia, Kew Zealand, South
Africa, (India).
U.   Question of the Free French. If
the Free French are not to be allowed to be
one of the original signatories of the
Declaration, then it should be clearly
understood that they may accede to the
Declaration immediately afterwards.   As at
present drafted, the accession clause only
provides for accession by ••nations". Jt_
would make the position clearer if the words
"or authorities" could be inserted after
"najfci.ons^l.     The F.O. originally suggested
tftat the words "or authority" should be
inserted after the word "Government" wherever
this occurred throughout the Declaration in
order to enable the Free French to sign as
an original signatory, and I am not sure
that the words should not still be inserted
in order to cover the position of the Free
French, even if the latter are only to accede.
I am afraid that London will be very
upset that the President has ruled that the
Free French may not be an original signatory
of the Declaration.    It might ease matters if
we could get some definite undertaking from
the S.D. beforehand that there would be no
difficulties about the Free French acceding
immediately.    It is, I think, important to be
sure that Mr. Hopkins's message will really be
carried out by the S.D.
December-30'th, 19U1.
[OVER.
Cabinet feels that we ought not to consent
to arrangement by which various states of British
Commonwealth are separated in list.    It has been the
practice hitherto in inter-Allied declarations to
group together the Commonwealth states in view of
their common sovereignty and this is the rule which
should govern the present case.   To depart from this
precedent now may well give us a great deal of trouble
later on.    In St. James1 Palace Declaration the
Commonwealth Governments were grouped together,
although the Declarations were inter-Governmental in
form.    It is particularly desirable at the present
moment to emphasize the fact that separate members of
the British Commonwealth are acting together. What
are the special reasons advanced by the President which
make it necessary for us to give this concession?
2. It is true that in the case of international
declarations and treaties practice has been to use
either (1) recital of heads of States in which case
United Kingdom and Dominions are grouped under The
King; or (2) to refer to "Government of United Kingdom
etc." in which case alphabetical order of countries is
strictly adhered to but we would not wish to extend
the practice under (2) to inter-allied declarations
such as the present.
3. You probably will inform Dominion representa-
tives of views contained in paragraph one above.
i4. The Viceroy's view is that India should be
associated with declaration but that this should be
done with the assent of his Council which he is
consulting.    He promises to let us know as soon as he
has/
r\ /i   • /   - *\
-2-
has their answer.    We are telegraphing text
of declaration to the Government of India.
5- The Cabinet also note with great
regret that there is no reference to social
security in revised declaration.