Office of the Historian

740.00113 European War 1939/1119: Telegram

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

London, October 26, 1943—8 p.m.
[Received 9:40 p.m.]

7387. Dispute reported in my 6833, October 8, to Department, raised again by Soviet representative at most recent meeting of Inter-Allied Subcommittee of Axis Acts of Dispossession held October 20. Soviet representative not satisfied with suggestion by Gregory, chairman of committee, that report be prefaced by statement indicating that nothing in report should be regarded as prejudicial to position of any signatory on any outstanding boundary question. Gregory now proposes statement at end of report in which Soviet representative specifically [dissociates] himself from Polish memorandum and any statement in report based on that memorandum. Soviet representative did not appear to be satisfied with this suggestion at meeting. Decision on the question postponed until next meeting of committee. Soviet representative obviously acting on instructions. Foreign Office has instructed Gregory to attempt to find solution [without?] forcing issue. Polish Government not willing to withdraw and amend memorandum as demanded by Soviet representative. All other members of committee want to avoid situation in which Soviet representative will withdraw and refuse to sign report. Soviet report on methods of dispossession not yet received but expected in reasonably near future.28

This message will be of interest to Reinstein in Office of Foreign Economic Coordination.29

Repeated to Moscow.

Winant
  1. No record found in Department files of receipt of such a Soviet report; statement submitted by the U.S.S.R. on “scope of existing Legislation under which Transfers or dealings would be or could be invalidated” was transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in the United Kingdom in his despatch No. 10461, August 2, 1943 (740.00113 European War 1939/1011).↩
  2. Jacques J. Reinstein, Divisional Assistant, Foreign Funds Control Division; for a short period associated with the Office of Foreign Economic Coordination before its foreign economic operations were transferred to the Foreign Economic Administration, in accordance with an executive order of September 25, 1943.↩