840.48/5144: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Winant ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 3—2:15 p.m.]
4700. My 4522, September 25,28 and previous regarding meetings of Inter-Allied Council now taking place in London, with particular reference to Mr. Eden’s statement29 in telegram above cited regarding Committee of Allied Representatives under chairmanship of Sir Frederick Leith-Ross.
I have received the following letter dated September 27 from Sir Frederick Leith-Ross.
“You will no doubt have seen that the Allied Governments at their meeting on the 24th instant agreed inter alia to set up an Inter-Allied Committee under my chairmanship which would consider proposals relating to the estimates of postwar requirements presented by the respective governments and collated by the bureau established for that purpose.
In the message which you authorized Mr. Eden to announce to the Allied Meeting, the United States Government requested that ‘it should be kept fully advised regarding the course of these exploratory discussions and consulted as regards any plans which might emanate therefrom’. This statement was warmly welcomed by the Allied representative[s] and Mr. Eden informed them that he had given you an assurance that the United States Government ‘will be kept fully informed of the discussions at and arising out of this meeting and of the work accomplished by the bureau and the Inter-Allied Committee and that they will be consulted before any concrete plans are decided upon’.
In pursuance of this assurance, I should be glad to know whether you would see your way to nominate a representative to attend the meetings of the Inter-Allied Committee as an observer on behalf of [Page 111] the United States Government. I hope that this may be possible as it would appear to afford the simplest means of insuring that you are kept fully informed as to the discussions which may take place. But if for any reason you cannot fall in with this suggestion, I should be glad to consider any alternative proposal which you may feel able to make in order to provide an appropriate means of consultation.
I may add that it is contemplated that a preliminary meeting of the Committee should be held in the near future to consider the form in which estimates of requirements can most conveniently be drawn up and other technical questions relating to the organization of the preparatory work of the bureau. Thereafter it is not anticipated that the Committee should be required to meet until the estimates of requirements have been received and collated which may take a considerable time.”
If the Department approves of Leith-Ross’ suggestion that an American representative attend the meetings of the Committee as an observer I shall designate Second Secretary Alan Steyne unless the Department has other wishes in the matter.