April 10, 1945

Information Bulletin, Embassy of the U.S.S.R.

The Government of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, desirous of securing the sincere and effective participation of the Byelorussian people in all international activities of the United Nations directed toward the realization of the lofty aims of peace and security, addresses to the Conference of the United Nations gathered in San Francisco this declaration of its wish to participate in the International Organization for the maintenance of peace and security, which is being created, in the capacity of an original founding member, and to be represented at the Conference in San Francisco.

The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, in accordance with its Constitution and the constitutional law of March 24, 1944, as a sovereign state, is competent to enter into direct relations with foreign states, to conclude agreements with them, to participate in any international conferences, international bodies, etc.

The constitutional prerogatives of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic in the field of international relations give her all the rights and grounds to participate in the International Organization of the United Nations.

The Byelorussian people, whose lands in the past were the object of attacks on the part of foreign conquerors more than once, are interested no less than any other peace-loving state in securing their frontiers and in a stable, lasting peace.

The Byelorussian Republic with its population of more than ten million, has made a major contribution to the sacred cause of the struggle of the freedom-loving nations against the common enemy-Hitlerite Germany.

The German invaders brought innumerable hardships and sufferings to the Byelorussian people. Invading Byelorussia with no reason at all, the Hitlerite conquerors carried out planned destruction of cities, villages, industry, agriculture, and national and cultural values of the freedom-loving Byelorussian people, causing Byelorussia a damage totaling about one-half of its national wealth.

The German fascists in their aim to conquer and enslave the Byelorussian people practiced brutal mass murders of the peaceful population of Byelorussia.

But even during the hardest times of the German invasion and the years of incredible suffering under the German-fascist regime of occupation, the Byelorussian people did not pause for a moment in their struggle. About one million Byelorussian warriors joined the ranks of the Red Army fighting for its Motherland and for the common cause of the United Nations.

Hundreds of thousands of citizens-men and women-of the Byelorussian Republic, devoted to the cause of freedom and peace, joined guerrilla detachments and without any regard for their own lives operated actively in the rear of the German invaders, disorganizing enemy communications, hindering the movement of its troops, embarrassing its operations and thus helping the Red Army in all possible ways to destroy the German invaders.

The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, aiming in every way to contribute to the cause of creating a stable peace and security together with other freedom-loving states, considers it its right and duty to participate in the International Security Organization as well as in the Conference of the United Nations in San Francisco.

The Government of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic believes that serious harm would be done to the principle of the most complete and widest representation of all the peace-loving nations in the International Security Organization if the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic were not represented in this Organization, as well as in the Conference for the creation of such an Organization, and if the solution of such important problems as the ensuring of postwar peace and security were dealt with without the participation of representatives of the Byelorussian SSR.

P. K. PONOMARENKO
Chairman, Council of People's Commissars, Byelorussian SSR

K. B. KISELEV
People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Byelorussian SSR