550.AD1/447
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Government have now studied the formal and informal communications which the State Department have been good enough to make to them about the Food Conference. They are extremely gratified that the United States Government are so largely in agreement with their views and have found it possible to go so far in accepting the suggestions contained in Lord Halifax’s letter to Mr. Hull of March 27, 1943 and in the informal note of the British Embassy to the State Department of March 29, 1943. His Majesty’s [Page 838] Government are particularly glad to note that the United States Government share their view that wider problems of economic and financial policy should not be dealt with by committees of the Food Conference but should form the subject of separate discussion in due course.
His Majesty’s Government agree generally with the proposed agenda which, if they may say so, seems to them to be an admirable piece of work and to cover the ground very fully. His Majesty’s Government would not wish to make any definite suggestions for amendments, particularly as they appreciate that the United States Government desire to circulate it in the final form as early as possible. They have, however, a few observations to make on points of detail which they suggest the Economic Adviser might discuss informally with members of the State Department.
His Majesty’s Government are also grateful for the proposed addendum to the agenda which, together with the assurance that wider problems of economic and financial policy shall not be dealt with by committees of the Food Conference, entirely meets their point that controversial matters should be kept out of the Conference.