800.42/323: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Bucknell) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 10—1:40 a.m.]
8556. Our 8531, 8th.10 Embassy has received following communication dated December 7 from Foreign Office, receipt of which has been acknowledged: [Page 1159]
“As you are aware the United States Government are represented by an observer on the informal Conference of Allied Ministers of Education which was set up in London in October 1942 under the chairmanship of the President of the Board of Education, to consider what help would be needed by and could be given to the Allied countries of Europe now occupied by the enemy in respect of the restoration of their educational systems after the war.
The Conference has recently circulated a memorandum (AME/A/21A) (This document was submitted with Embassy’s despatch 11875 [11885]) October 2611) showing that the scope of its activities has been gradually extended and proposing that the Conference should now be transformed into an official organization, on the basis of full membership, and that all the United Nations should be asked to appoint official delegates and to assume the financial and other responsibilities of full membership.
The objects of the reconstituted Conference would be: (a) To organize measures of educational relief to the Allied countries of Europe now under enemy occupation and, if desired, to Allied countries outside Europe which have suffered devastation; (b) to consider plans for the formation of a permanent organization, at first confined to the United Nations, but eventually to be placed on an international basis with the object of promoting cooperation in educational matters in the postwar period.
His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom are in principle willing to give formal and financial support to the organization outlined in the memorandum. The other governments already represented by official delegates have likewise approved the memorandum and feel, like His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom, that as a first step towards the implementation of its terms, those governments at present represented by observers should be invited without delay to appoint official delegates.
His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom accordingly have the honour to convey to the United States Government on their own behalf and on behalf of the other Allied Governments already officially represented, an invitation to participate in the Conference on the basis of full membership.
A similar invitation is being addressed to the Soviet and Chinese Governments, to His Majesty’s Governments in the Dominions and to the Government of India. [”]