548.G1/85: Telegram
The Consul General at Hamilton (Beck) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 28—2:54 p.m.]
151. For Long from Dodds. The following agreement has been concluded between the American and British delegations.
The United States delegation pointed out to the United Kingdom delegation that on their return to their respective capitals all the delegates would be under heavy pressure to disclose what had been the course of the discussions at the Bermuda Conference, and what had been the recommendations. The British delegation would be [Page 173] faced with a debate in the House of Commons, which was not of the government’s seeking, while in both the Senate and Congress searching questions might very well be addressed to Senator Lucas and Congressman Bloom. It would be very embarrassing to both sides to refuse information and take their stand on the secrecy of the whole proceedings, if one side then made any facts public without due warning and before a mutual agreement had been reached.
It was therefore agreed that none of the delegates, and neither of their Governments would disclose any of the proceedings of the Conference or its recommendations except by mutual agreement sought through the diplomatic channel.
The delegates expressed the hope that it might very soon be possible for their Governments to make certain items public, at intervals, and it was recognized that the recommendations regarding the Intergovernmental Committee, when passed on to a number of foreign governments would have to be disclosed. But both delegations agreed that such publication would only be made by mutual agreement and should be simultaneous. [Dodds.]