841.24/162
The Department of State to the British Embassy 48
Memorandum
In discussion with the Under Secretary on November 30, the British Ambassador inquired as to the manner in which contact should be established between the Anglo-French Purchasing Board in the United States and the authorities of the United States Government to avoid any unnecessary disturbance to the American economy. This Government plans to set up in the very near future an informal committee made up of representatives of the Treasury, War and Navy Departments, which committee will report directly to the President through his Administrative Assistant, Mr. McReynolds. When established, this committee will be glad to discuss with the Anglo-French Purchasing Mission any questions which involve interference with the purchases to be made by the Government of the United States in connection with its preparedness program, any questions which involve priorities, and any questions cognate to the question of fair prices and which thus affect the internal economy of the United States.
- Handed to the Commercial Counselor of the British Embassy on December 5 by Mr. Feis, Economic Adviser of the Department, under instructions of Under Secretary of State Welles; an almost identical memorandum was handed to the French Counselor of Embassy on the same date.↩