Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, The American Republics, Volume V

740.00112A European War 1939/5342½: Telegram

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

Washington, January 20, 1942—5 p.m.

232. Reference Department’s no. 93 of January 8, 1942.⁶

1. We have discussed with Noel Hall⁷ of British Embassy here our desire to have the coordination of British and American listing policies and procedures divided between London and Washington on the basis of having the European cases handled in London and the Western Hemisphere cases handled in Washington. We are satisfied that desired expedition and unity of action can best be secured in this manner.

2. We have already authorized you to represent us with the Black List committee for the purpose of coordinating our lists on European cases and we are prepared to follow the decisions on such cases which you reach in your deliberations with that committee, subject to your reference to Washington for the present of any cases on which you and the committee are unable to reach agreement with the views of the American mission concerned. Whenever necessary you are authorized to communicate directly with our missions in Europe in order to reach agreement on particular cases.

3. We understand from Noel Hall that the general question of having MEW give the British Embassy here more autonomous authority on Western Hemisphere cases will probably be considered at the meeting of the Black List Committee on Thursday, January 22. Before this meeting the Department desires you, if possible, to discuss the matter with the appropriate responsible officials and to inform such officials that you are now authorized to extend an invitation to have representatives of the British Embassy here participate fully in the regular bi-weekly meetings of the Proclaimed List Committee. You are authorized to suggest and in your discretion to urge strongly that such participation will only result in the desired increase in expedition and unity of action if the British participant on the committee is generally given the same broad authority on Western Hemisphere cases as you have on European cases as stated in paragraph 2 above. Please report fully.⁸

Hull

6. Not printed; it dealt with various aspects of Anglo-American cooperation on Proclaimed List procedures.
7. Noel F. Hall, in charge of economic warfare matters at the British Embassy with rank of Minister.

8. In telegram No. 336, January 23, 1942, 8 p.m., Ambassador Winant reported that the Ministry of Economic Warfare agreed to all points raised in this telegram (740.00112A EW 1939/6499).

   On January 29, British and Canadian representatives began participating in the work of the Proclaimed List Committee.