893.0146/621b
Oral Statement by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck) to the Counselor of the British Embassy (Mallet)77
The making of arrangements for these changes necessarily involves issuance of orders and beginning of execution of orders well in advance of the date on which withdrawals and transfers are to become [Page 59] effective. In order to give the British Government time to consider what changes, if any, it may desire to make, effort will be made by the American Government to avoid, for a period of at least one week, publicity with regard to the changes which it is preparing to make. We cannot undertake, however, absolutely to guarantee that this effort will be successful.
Statement made at the time of handling to the Counselor of the British Embassy the Department’s aide-mémoire, supra.
Similar oral statement, but including also information as to plans for withdrawal of troops, was made to the Third Secretary of the French Embassy, January 31 (893.0146/646a).
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