840.50/2191a
The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Representatives 74
Sirs: There is enclosed for your information a copy of a memorandum of conversation of June 23, 1943 between officers of the Department and officials of the Belgian Government75 with respect to the Draft Agreement for a United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. This conversation covered so many of the important questions and also so many of the details that may be of interest to other governments that it is believed it will be of use to you as a guide to the Department’s interpretation of the Draft Agreement.
It is the desire of the Department to secure signature of an agreement on this subject at as early a date as possible so that the organization can be established and be prepared to operate as territories are liberated from the enemy.
It is believed that the governments must be given, at least six weeks in advance, some indication of at least tentative plans for a conference at which such signature will take place and that the actual invitation for that conference must be issued at least four weeks in advance. It will be impossible, therefore, to hold the conference before September. It is hoped, however, that governments will be in substantial agreement before the end of July so that tentative plans for the conference can be placed before governments at that time and that all or most governments will be in full agreement soon thereafter so that invitations can be issued for a conference to open some time in September.
You are instructed to seek informal opportunities for discussing this Government’s proposal with the appropriate officials of the government to which you are accredited with the objective of meeting if possible some such time schedule as that set forth above. You should keep the Department informed, by telegraph if necessary, regarding the progress of the consideration of the matter by that government.
Very truly yours,