840.48 Refugees/4885: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 18—5:14 p.m.]
8795. The Embassy has today received a letter dated December 16 from the Foreign Office on the subject of the five additional IGC offices [Page 239] at the same time as receiving Department’s 7962, December 17, 6 [7] p.m. The Foreign Office expresses agreement in principle and makes several suggestions.
The next meeting of the Executive Committee is to be in January and we understand from a previous statement by the Director that he does not feel free to proceed with the subject until approved by the Executive Committee although he strongly favors the proposal. We feel that time might consequently be saved by having British and American diplomatic representatives clear the proposal at the several proposed places if possible, before the Executive Committee meets, thereby avoiding the delay in awaiting such action subsequent to the Executive Committee meeting, and on Monday we propose to hold an informal joint meeting with the Directorate and Foreign Office with this in mind. This Saturday afternoon we cannot reach them.