893.24/1655
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Aide-Mémoire
Reference is made to the Embassy’s aide-mémoire of July 27, 1943, in which it is proposed that machinery be set up at Chungking for joint screening of Chinese requirements of non-military supplies.
The Government of the United States desires that the principle of joint screening be extended wherever practicable for the mutual benefit of the governments and areas concerned. This Government believes the extension of this principle particularly desirable in several areas of the eastern hemisphere where it is not presently in full operation.
It is, however, the opinion of this Government that the establishment of a formal organization at Chungking for this purpose should be postponed until such time as the transportation difficulties now encountered in supplying China’s needs may be more appreciably overcome. It is believed that this consideration is of great importance in assuring the future favorable reaction of the Government of China to any such procedure.
The Government of the United States is prepared at all times to collaborate with the British Government in any steps which may usefully be taken to facilitate the flow of supplies into China. With this end in view the proposal embodied in the Embassy’s aide-mémoire will continue to have the attention of this Government.