611.4131/1681: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy)
379. Your 664, July 21, 7 p.m.42 I do not know to what extent the Prime Minister43 has been able to follow the details of our trade [Page 39] agreement negotiations; I know, of course, that he has had a large number of other important matters before him and that the demands upon his time have been heavy. I feel that you should see the Prime Minister at once about the present status of the negotiations. I look to you to present the following views to him clearly and firmly but in such a manner as not to cause him to feel that my comments are in any sense critical of him.
We have tried hard to make our position on our various requests for concessions perfectly clear to the British Delegation.
It is important that the Cabinet in reaching its decision be under no misapprehension in regard to our position. We wish to conclude a satisfactory agreement as soon as possible but any agreement which we sign must be a satisfactory one. This means that the British offers should meet substantially our requests as outlined to the British Delegation. We will not give up requests which we regard as fair and essential to conclude an agreement by the end of next week; nor are we prepared to acquiesce in the suspension of the negotiations for a period of weeks until we are certain that the Prime Minister understands the dangers inherent in such a course and the clear fact that the United Kingdom must assume the responsibility for the delay. If a satisfactory agreement cannot be achieved, I feel strongly that our two Governments owe it to their people to determine this as soon as possible and make this unpleasant fact known publicly.
There has already been criticism in this country, and perhaps in the United Kingdom, that the negotiations have been unduly protracted, that the delay has caused uncertainty in business circles and thus has to some extent retarded an upswing in trade and industry. Should there be a suspension of the negotiations for 6 weeks to enable the British Ministers to take their holidays, this criticism would, of course, become intensified.
As I informed you in my No. 366 of July 18, 3 p.m., I plan to remain in Washington as long as necessary to be in direct and active touch with these negotiations.