865.014/4–347: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State 1
2069. We are informed by Jebb that Foreign Office is still without reply from Moscow to suggestion deputies to consider Italian colonies meet London.2 British pressing further Moscow for reply.
Incidentally, in strictest confidence, he said he was meeting Commonwealth High Commissioners today to lecture them on problems involved in disposition Italian colonies. Evatt3 was continuing to be disagreeable and insisting that Australia be represented on commission. [Page 576] Evatt also resented what he termed the indignity to which Australia would be subjected in submitting its views to deputies, insisting Australia’s views should be presented to Foreign Ministers.
British continue to resist this pressure for membership on commission but are taking the position that if he wishes to defer presenting Australia’s views until Italian colonial question is reviewed by CFM, possibly a year hence, British have no objection. Jebb has previously indicated his belief that solution of Italian colonial problem will involve harmonizing multifarious conflicting political desires and conference with Commonwealth High Commissioners may represent active measures by British to obtain prior Commonwealth support for British desiderata.
Sent Dept 2069; repeated Moscow 166; repeated Paris 247; repeated Rome 46.
- The Secretary of State was at this time in Moscow for the Fourth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, March 10–April 24, 1947.↩
- The French Government had earlier agreed to the British proposal for a preliminary meeting of the Deputies in London.↩
- Herbert V. Evatt, Australian Minister for External Affairs and Attorney General.↩