DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
 
        The Department has tentatively formulated, for 
use when approved, a Draft Plan for International 
Trusteeship, a Draft Plan for Regional Advisory Com-
missions for Dependent Areas, and a Draft Declaration 
Regarding Administration of Dependent Areas.
 
       No discussion with other governments has as yet 
occurred regarding these papers. While we were pre-
pared to transmit a proposal on trusteeship prior to 
the Dumbarton Oaks Conversations, this part of our 
Tentative Proposals was taken out at the instance of 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff who in the light of circum-
stances last summer feared that embarrassing terri-
torial discussions might result. Accordingly, no 
formal discussion occurred during those Conversations. 
However, the British, Soviet, and Chinese representa- 
tives informally expressed much interest in the matter, 
and it was understood that this question would be con-
sidered later as one of the questions left open.
 
       Our Draft Plans are being submitted to review, 
in the light of the Dumbarton Oaks Proposals, by the 
Secretary's Staff Committee and by the War and Navy 
Departments for presentation to the President before 
communication to other governments. Their essential 
points are summarized below.
 
          Categories of Dependent Territories.--Dependent 
       areas should be divided, for reasons of status and
       corresponding difference in degree and directness 
       of international concern, into two categories: 
       (a) trust (or mandated) territories whose special 
       status makes it desirable to place them under the
       authority of the-general international organiza-
       tion as trustee; and (b) other dependent terri-
       tories whose control by individual states is 
       recognized pending their development toward self-
       government to the fullest extent of the capacity 
       of the dependent people.
 
          Declaration of Principles.--The authorities 
       responsible for the administration of dependent 
       territories should agree upon a general declaration 
       of principles designed to establish minimum
 
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