840.48/4988: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom
(Winant)
to the Secretary of
State
London, July
7, 1941—midnight.
[Received July 8—8
a.m.]
2887. I have received following letter dated July 4 from Mr.
Eden:21
[“]With reference to our conversation this afternoon about
the proposed inter-Allied meeting to discuss the supply of
food and raw materials to European countries when they are
free from German occupation, I enclose a copy of a draft
note which I am proposing to send to the Allied Governments,
and of a draft resolution which will be sent to them for
their concurrence.
Before I take action it would be a help to me to know whether
you think that the general idea would concord with the views
of the United States Government and also whether the United
States Government would be prepared to allow anything to be
said on their behalf at the meeting which would assist the
deliberations.”
Following is the text of draft note:
- “1. As the . . . . . Government are aware, His
Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom have
announced their intention to promote measures for the
supply of food and raw materials to the countries of
Europe as soon as these countries have fully regained
their freedom from German domination. In the view of His
Majesty’s Government, this policy can only be achieved
with the cooperation of all countries concerned, and
accordingly I have the honor to propose that a meeting
of the Allied Governments concerned should take place as
soon as convenient to consider what steps can best be
taken to further this common aim.
- 2. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom have
already taken some preliminary steps to give effect to
this policy. Last autumn Sir Frederick Leith-Ross, Chief
Economic Adviser to His Majesty’s Government, with the
assistance of a committee of officials and reporting to
a committee of ministers under the chairmanship of the
Minister without Portfolio was entrusted with organizing
the work in connection with surplus commodities. This
covered in the first place immediate action where
necessary to assist the economies of producing countries
whose markets had been closed by the blockade and in the
second place plans for the supply of Europe’s post-war
needs which is obviously closely related to the disposal
of current surpluses. I understand that Sir Frederick
Leith-Ross has in fact been in consultation informally
with representatives of certain of the governments
concerned on the subject of their estimated future
requirements and the action which they themselves have
in contemplation; but it appears desirable to put these
consultations on a more formal basis and to arrange for
the work to be more closely coordinated.
- 3. It is proposed that the meeting should be opened by
an explanation of the policy of His Majesty’s Government
in the United Kingdom and of the action which they have
already set on foot to give effect to that policy; the
representatives of the Allied Governments would then be
invited to state their views; and finally a general
resolution would be submitted for approval. I realize
that, at the present stage, it is difficult to formulate
concrete propositions, and the resolution must therefore
be directed in the main to organizing the preparatory
work. It appears to be the common interest of all the
Allied Governments to secure that the post-war needs of
their respective countries will be effectively provided
for. These needs will necessarily vary in accordance
with the economic position of each country, and each
government would naturally be primarily responsible for
the requirements of its own people. At the same time,
these different requirements will require to be
coordinated and an order of priority established as
between the various needs. His Majesty’s Government in
the United Kingdom would be ready to offer any
assistance which they can give in this task of
coordination. As a first step, they would suggest that,
insofar as this has not already been done, each of the
Allied Governments should draw up estimates of the
commodities required for its people, on comparable
lines, and indicating the order of importance attached
to each item. In the next place, shipping will be a
common difficulty, and the efficient employment of the
tonnage available will plainly require collaboration in
the allocation of the resources available. To this
question of collaboration in shipping His Majesty’s
Government attach the utmost importance, regarding it as
fundamental to the establishment of any concrete
programme. Thirdly, it would appear desirable to
establish a control Bureau, in order to carry forward
the present informal exchanges of views between His
Majesty’s Government and the Allied Governments and to
coordinate their results. In due course, other
questions, such as the distribution of stocks, their
allocation to particular needs and financial
arrangements, will have to be tackled.
- 4. In order that the business of the meeting may be
conducted smoothly and rapidly, it is proposed that the
resolution to be adopted should be agreed beforehand.
Accordingly, I enclose herewith a tentative draft which
we hope will meet with the approval of the . . . . .
Government. Should you have any questions to raise or
amendments to suggest on the draft resolution, I should
be grateful if you would arrange for the competent
authorities to get in touch with Sir Cyril Hurcomb at
the Ministry of War Transport insofar as it relates to
shipping (paragraph 5) and with Sir Frederick Leith-Ross
at the Ministry of Economic Warfare, insofar as it
relates to other matters.
- 5. Accordingly I have the honor to inquire whether the
. . . . . Government is in agreement with the proposal
to hold a meeting with the agenda suggested. If so, a
date will be fixed and the necessary arrangements made.
It is hoped that the meeting can be held in the early
part of July.”22
Following is text of draft resolution:
“The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, the Governments of Greece, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Yugoslavia, agree: [Page 100]
- (1)
- That it is the common aim of the Allied
Governments to see that supplies of food and raw
materials should be made available for the postwar
needs of their countries as soon as they are fully
liberated from German domination;
- (2)
- That while each of the Allied Governments will be
primarily responsible for making provision for the
economic needs for its own people, their respective
plans should be coordinated, in a spirit of
collaboration, for the successful achievement of the
common aim;
- (3)
- That they welcome the preparatory measures which
have already been undertaken by His Majesty’s
Government in the United Kingdom for this purpose
and express their readiness to collaborate to the
fullest extent of the treaty power in pursuing the
action required;
- (4)
- That accordingly, each government should prepare
estimates of the kinds and amounts of foodstuffs and
raw materials required for the reprovisioning of
their countries, and the order of priority in which
they would desire supplies to be delivered as soon
as the blockade can be lifted;
- (5)
- That the reprovisioning of Europe as a whole
should have prior claim on the shipping resources of
each government and thus on Allied shipping
resources as a whole and that the method of giving
effect to this principle should be worked out
between the Allied Governments and the Ministry of
War Transport;
- (6)
- That a bureau shall be established by the
Government of the United Kingdom under the direction
of Sir Frederick Leith-Ross—which the Allied
Governments could consult in framing estimates of
their requirements and which would collate and
coordinate these estimates.”
Before speaking to Mr. Eden again about this matter I would
appreciate your comments with particular reference to second
paragraph of his letter.
