841.01 Im 7/69: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Wheeler) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 12—6:50 p.m.]
503. The official summary of the work of the Imperial Conference now being circulated although not yet made a public document contains the following paragraphs.
“The conference after careful consideration of the policy which has been pursued was of the opinion that the European situation could only be lifted on the plane of a possible settlement by the cooperation of the United States of America and that if the scheme of common inquiry to be followed by common action were to break down the results would be inimical both to the peace and to the economic recovery of the world.
“It felt that in such an event it would be desirable for the British Government to consider very carefully the alternative of summoning a conference itself in order to examine the financial and the economic problem in its widest aspect.
“During the session of the conference the question of the regulation of the liquor traffic off the American coasts and of the measures to be taken to avoid a serious conflict either of public opinion or of official action was seriously debated. The conference arrived at the conclusion that while affirming and safeguarding as a cardinal feature of British policy the principle of the 3-mile limit it was yet both desirable and practicable to meet the American request for an extension of the right of search beyond this limit for the above purpose, and negotiations were at once opened with the United States Government for the conclusion of an experimental agreement with this object in view.”