800.24/1000: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 8—2:43 p.m.]
4454. Our position with reference to inquiries about the availability of military supplies as outlined in the Department’s 3768, June 19, 8 p.m., was presented to the Foreign Office on June 21. We have now received in reply a communication from the Foreign Office reading as follows:
“We have no wish to dispute the State Department’s contention that the governments of these countries should, if they so desire, apply to the Government of the United States for lend-lease military supplies and it was not our intention to suggest that Ibn Saud was precluded from approaching the United States Government direct. The instructions sent to the British Legation at Jidda were in conformity with a modus operandi (which though not officially recognized has usually been followed by the Munitions Assignment Boards) whereby, requests for war supplies from countries in certain areas should be canalized either through Washington or through London. This procedure was intended to prevent the confusion that might arise if a government submits simultaneous requests for the same arms in both capitals and we have ourselves strictly adhered to it in the case of countries in the United States sphere of strategic responsibility as defined by the Combined Chiefs of Staff. But I understand that the combined Munitions Assignment Board are now considering the preparation of an agreement, to remove any misunderstanding which may now exist.”12