File No. 652.119/1457
The Ambassador in Spain ( Willard) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 22, 12.50 p.m.]
1704. War Trade Board [from Chadbourne]:
215. Department’s 1409, August 9, War Trade Board 189,1 and Embassy’s 1559, July 19, our 158.2 Your paragraphs 1 and 2 accord with our understanding, but for convenience, we recommend one committee with two subdivisions as stated in following resolutions adopted at meeting August 17, and submitted for your approval.
(Translation)
The Inter-Allied Commercial Bureau at Madrid shall have two divisions known as Inter-Allied Purchasing Committee and Inter-Allied War Trade Board. Each of the Allied Governments shall have a representative on each committee, so that each committee will be composed of as many members as there are Allied Governments represented. The members of the two committees shall meet jointly and make their decisions in concert on all questions which may be of common interest to the two committees. Each committee may meet and make decisions independently in respect to all questions interesting it alone, but decisions taken by each committee shall always be recorded in joint minutes, which will be a continuation of the meetings of the Inter-Allied Commercial Bureau thus far held. These minutes shall be in three parts, one for decisions taken by the two committees in common, one for decisions of the Inter-Allied Purchasing Committee acting alone, and one for decisions of the Inter-Allied War Trade Board acting alone.
It should also be stated that the French and British members of the purchasing committee buy not only for their armies, but for their civilian population as well.
Your paragraph 3 accords with our understanding. Will discuss in detail matters therein mentioned at next meeting of committee, August 24, including question of machinery necessary to effective functioning as requested in your paragraph 5, and report further. Believe it may be desirable to extend list mentioned your sub-paragraph (3) to include flax, antimony, nickel, preservatives, leather and leather products, this on the suggestion of Brandon, French purchasing agent. Neither of the committees as such makes purchases and their functions are as you state them in your sub-paragraph [Page 1706] (4), but the individual members of the purchasing committee do make purchases for their respective Governments.
Your paragraph 4. Agree that unless and until further developments make a change desirable, committees should report to respective ambassadors. Your paragraph 5 answered above; will report further. Your paragraph 6. Will ask Italian Ambassador to name representative. Ervin, Chadbourne.