840.50/700: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:16 p.m.]
5507. (1) At a meeting of Inter-Allied Committee on Post-War Relief held yesterday afternoon, Leith-Ross presented in general terms some of the impressions he had brought back from his informal consultations with various American officials in Washington. He ably “window-dressed” his statement so that, while it was meagre in specific information, it nevertheless did give the Allied representatives an outline picture of definite interest to them without including any undesirable details.
He closed by frankly admitting that the consultations in United States of America had not led to any proposals which he could put before Committee, and then read statement47 prepared by Department and amended in accordance with instructions contained in telegram No. 5484 [4584], dated September 21.
As was to be expected delegates expressed disappointment that Leith-Ross had failed to return with any concrete blueprint of relief plans and particularly stressed need of being in position to broadcast to their compatriots in occupied territories more than a mere statement that relief measures were being planned. His talk, however, was, on the whole, well received by Committee. It had, I think, a useful effect in convincing Allied representatives of vital interest of United States of America in relief planning, its awareness of the urgency of the planning problem and its willingness to assume a fair share of relief burden.
(2) During later round table discussion Leith-Ross availed himself of an appropriate opportunity to explain briefly and off the record that American authorities felt entire attention of American people at present time should be concentrated upon prosecution of war and tasks necessary to achieve victory. Therefore anything that might seem to detract from a full war effort would not be helpful at this [Page 142] stage. Informed American opinion, he told Committee, held it would be definitely premature and could result in adverse political repercussions should any grandiose relief plans be even adumbrated now. He felt certain that delegates understood the importance of timing with respect to public opinion and added that there was no lack of a sense of urgency in United States of America official circles in connection with relief planning. When the corner had been turned and final success seemed in the offing, that would be the time, Leith-Ross said, for a concrete and broad relief program to be formulated and given some public announcement. In the meantime Americans were actively engaged in carrying on the necessary preliminary studies and were greatly interested in progress being made here in preparation of relief requirement estimates.
The above report was made by Steyne48 who attended the meeting as member of Committee.
Further details concerning discussions at meeting being sent airmail early next week.49