Dumbarton Oaks Conference

Washington_conversations_on_international_organization,_Dumbarton_Oaks,_Washington,_D.C.,_USA_(August_1944)

Dumbarton_Oaks_-_house_photo_with_snow

The Dumbarton Oaks Conference was an international meeting held from August 21 to October 7, 1944, at Dumbarton Oaks, a historic estate in Washington, D.C.. The conference was a pivotal event in the establishment of the United Nations and laid the groundwork for the creation of the United Nations Charter.

Background

The conference was convened during World War II and was attended by representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and the Republic of China. The primary objective was to discuss and formulate proposals for a post-war international organization that would ensure peace and security.

Participants

The key participants included:

• Edward Stettinius Jr. (United States)
• Andrei Gromyko (Soviet Union)
• Sir Alexander Cadogan (United Kingdom)
• V.K. Wellington Koo (Republic of China)

Key Proposals

The conference resulted in several important proposals, including:

• The establishment of a General Assembly composed of all member states.
• The creation of a Security Council with permanent and non-permanent members.
• The formation of an International Court of Justice.
• The establishment of a Secretariat to handle administrative functions.

Outcomes

The proposals from the Dumbarton Oaks Conference were later refined and adopted at the San Francisco Conference in 1945, leading to the official formation of the United Nations on October 24, 1945.

Significance

The Dumbarton Oaks Conference was significant because it marked the first major step towards the creation of a global organization dedicated to maintaining international peace and security. It also set the stage for subsequent negotiations and agreements that would shape the modern international order.

Related Pages

• United Nations
• United Nations Charter
• San Francisco Conference
• World War II
• International Court of Justice
• Security Council