Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1942, General; the British Commonwealth; the Far East, Volume I

840.50/863: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

Washington, December 3, 1942—midnight.

6111. Your 6594, November 24, 11 p.m. [a.m.], 6607, November 24,⁶⁷ and 6734, November 28, midnight.⁶⁸ As regards storage, the British response is encouraging and appreciated. The preliminary program of reserve stock purchases here is being sent by pouch for comment by the appropriate British authorities, and the final program, which should be determined within a few days or weeks, will be transmitted to you promptly as a basis for definite response on possible storage and turnover arrangements in the United Kingdom. The accumulation and transportation of the proposed stocks will be cleared with the appropriate combined boards in Washington.

As regards the concentration of relief and rehabilitation studies and planning on the requirements of occupied European countries after liberation from Axis control but prior to final termination of the war, the Department would offer the following comments in view of the reply of Sir Frederick Leith-Ross and the information contained in your 6734, November 28, midnight:

1. It is hoped that the authorities of the British Government will be in full agreement with the urgent importance that this Government attaches to having the program now being elaborated by the United Nations concern itself with the relief and rehabilitation of the civilian populations of areas to be liberated from enemy control or domination arising before the end of the war, as well as the problems of the post-war period.

2. The seeming restlessness of the Allied Governments in London represented by the delegation which called on Leith-Ross seems to underscore the importance of launching the proposed United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration as promptly as possible. The Department is making every effort here and in Moscow to secure prompt and favorable response from the Soviet Government to the draft proposal for such Administration.

3. In the meantime, the Department hopes that the Allied Governments in London may be persuaded to turn their attention actively to studies and analyses of the problems and needs in the period of reoccupation by the United Nations, prior to an Armistice, to the preparation of estimates and recommendations with respect to priorities of requirements, and to ways in which their countries can themselves make contributions to the program. If such studies are made by the Allied Governments themselves, as well as by the technical committees, it may be that they will have a sense of participation in a joint effort and that they will not press for individual liaison or other arrangements with the military authorities with respect to relief and rehabilitation of their populations.

4. While sympathizing with the concern of the Governments regarding plans for dealing with the needs of the civilian population of their countries as soon as possible, this Government would consider it unfortunate if a series of separate arrangements were made by those Governments and the military authorities. Pending the establishment of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration the Department would strongly prefer that the Allied Governments should discuss their problems and their ideas with the appropriate civilian authorities of the British and American Governments and that discussions with the military regarding the relation of relief and rehabilitation to military control in reoccupied areas should remain in the hands of the civilian authorities of the British and American Governments.

If you see no objection to the line of policy outlined in the numbered paragraphs above, you are requested to discuss these points with Leith-Ross and also, if it seems wise to you, with Mr. Eden and such other officials as may be concerned.

Hull

67. Latter not printed.
68. Not printed; it reported that a delegation representing the Belgian, Norwegian and Fighting French members of the Inter-Allied Committee on Post-War Relief had informally called on Leith-Ross and presented proposals relating to plans for immediate relief during period of military operations in Allied territories.