841.24/1107: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 26—9:15 a.m.]
6223. Personal to the Secretary. In my message No. 6049, December 14, 8 p.m., I explained that I had taken up article VII as amended in the draft Lend-Lease Agreement with the accompanying arguments in your No. 5789, December 9, 7 p.m.; and your 5790, December 9, 8 p.m., and that the Prime Minister had referred me to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I could not get the Prime Minister himself to seriously consider the issue or the arguments. He was planning to leave the following evening for the United States and wanted to discuss his trip and other things that he felt were of more immediate concern at the moment.
This issue of settlement under Lend-Lease is now being returned through Halifax to the Prime Minister after further consideration by the Cabinet on Wednesday evening55 and with certain requests as regards interpretation. I believe it is both wise and necessary to press for final agreement at this time. The drag of it as unsettled business interferes with good relations. In presenting the case to the Prime Minister, I wanted the President and you to know that to my best knowledge he has not either read or seriously considered the arguments presented in your briefs (your 5789 and 5790).
[Page 51]I was not officially informed about the Cabinet meeting or the action taken.
- December 24.↩