811.34544/419: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson)
102. Your 60, January 7, 10 p.m.69 Please inform the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that his views on the necessity from the British standpoint of having in London the negotiations in connection with the leases for the United States military bases were conveyed to the President. In view of the considerations advanced by Mr. Eden, the President on reconsideration has agreed that these negotiations [Page 58] take place in London and has designated the following officials as the American representatives to take part in these negotiations: Mr. Charles Fahy, Assistant Solicitor General, Department of Justice; Colonel Harry J. Malony, Field Artillery, United States Army; and Commander Harold Biesemeier, United States Navy.
These officers will leave New York on the Clipper plane next Friday, January 17th. Please take up with the British Government at once the question of obtaining passage for these officers on the first British plane leaving Lisbon for London after their arrival in Portugal.
We hope that it will be possible for you to provide office space for these officers in the Embassy and to furnish them with such stenographic and clerical assistance as they may require. We also desire that you and the officers of your staff extend such assistance to them in their work as they may desire.
These officers will communicate with you from Lisbon in regard to reserving hotel accommodations for them.
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