On January 23, 1951, the United States, United Kingdom and France replied to a Soviet proposal of December 30, 1950, concerning a proposed meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers. Theidentic notes pointed out that the western powers had specifically stated that they were unwilling to participate in a conference restricted to Germany alone and felt that the agenda should include the principal problems whose solution would permit a real and lasting improvement of relations with the Soviet Union and the elimination of the cause of existing international tension throughout the world. The three powers requested a clarification of the Soviet note on this point.