840.48/5762
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
Sir Frederick Leith-Ross called at my suggestion not to discuss any particular business, but merely for an informal exchange of information and ideas generally in relation to the international situation, with special reference to the relief question which brought him to the United States at this time.
In connection with the relief matter, Sir Frederick proceeded to say that the people in the European countries now in German subjugation would be disheartened in carrying on the struggle unless they could get assurances that Great Britain, the United States and other countries would be prepared to furnish relief to them at the end of the war in order to avoid outbreaks of anarchy, et cetera. I remarked that this Government, recalling that four European nations drifted into anarchy following the last World War, naturally assumed that a number of the European countries would follow similar steps at the end of this war unless some substantial measure of relief is furnished to them at the proper time. I added that this Government is closely interested in the avoidance of anarchy in Europe after the war because the effects would be disastrous and far-reaching to this country. I said that this Government, therefore, is definitely interested in dealing with the relief problem in a timely and adequate manner so far as is feasible. Therefore, as he already knew from his meeting with Mr. Acheson, we had been carrying on informal and unofficial conversations with a view to assembling all of the relevant facts in the matter, appraising them, and exchanging views and suggestions relative to the implementation of this relief policy, that no formal conferences have been held and only tentative agreements have constituted the developments to date. I further said that these discussions and exchanges of information would be carried on but there would be no [Page 133] formal conferences for the purpose of reaching a definite agreement until an appropriate stage of the war has been reached in the judgment of this country, Great Britain and the other United Nations. I added that there should be no publicity given to these discussions at this time.
I made clear to Sir Frederick that at this critical stage of the war and until the crisis had been passed, it would not be feasible or appropriate for this country to enter into formal conferences and definite agreements without serious risk of unfair criticism in the press which would be followed by political opposition and objections, which, although groundless, would nevertheless tend to obstruct the post-war program in its entirety. He seemed to appreciate this phase of the situation.