856D.6176/137: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Bingham )

61. Your 59, February 15. The Department is most confidentially advised that at meeting in London on February 20 much progress made towards rubber restriction agreement and that British rubber growers will sign agreement before March 1 and that Dutch growers have same disposition.

Without revealing that you possess this information please see British authorities again and inquire as to situation.

Neither the Colonial Office statement which you quote nor your assurances seem to the Department definite enough to represent any real assurance. If plan is on point of being effectuated the Government should be able to advise you definitely as to what measure if any of consumer representation is provided in this scheme. It should likewise be willing to inform you as to whether there is any definite price protection.

In short, you may bring home to the British authorities that the impression received by this Government is that the method being pursued of involving this agreement with the degree of secrecy that is being practiced is not in accord with the underlying idea of the resolution of the Economic Conference. Within your discretion, after having sounded out the situation sufficiently to be sure that the Department’s [Page 625] estimate is correct, you may make these views of written record, presenting them in writing to the British Government.

Hull