File No. 652.119/904

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France ( Sharp)

[Telegram]

4270. For McFadden [from War Trade Board]:

No. 104. Your No. 103, Embassy 3942, May 21, 4 p.m.1 We approve in principle the plan for creation of inter-Allied committee at Madrid to consider proposed imports from Associated nations and to cooperate closely with Inter-Allied Bureau of Purchases, Madrid, so that status of applications to export from Spain may be considered in connection with Spanish requests for imports into Spain from Associated nations. We note that the plan as set out in your cable does not appear to contemplate Italian representative. We feel that for political reasons Italy should be given an opportunity to name a representative on any inter-Allied committee set up in Spain. We are cabling Sheldon and Chadbourne our views as above set out and are authorizing Sheldon, if he can appropriately do so, to discuss the matter with the British with a view to obtaining their adherence to the plan.

Lansing
  1. Not printed; for a fuller explanation of the plan in question, see telegram from the Chargé in Great Britain, No. 10390, June 3, infra.