740.00119 EAC/8–144

American Minutes of an Informal Meeting of the European Advisory Commission40

[Extract]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sir William—I reported to Mr. Eden yesterday about the question of consultation with the other Allied Nations and in particular I reported to him the confidence of my U.S. colleague that we could finish discussion of the protocols and draft letter41 to the other Allied European Nations by the end of next week. I also said Mr. Gousev had expressed his willingness to examine the text of the proposed communication to the Allied Governments. Mr. Eden replied that he was glad to hear this and that he hopes we shall be able to make good and finish off this stage of the discussion by the end of next week. [Page 63] He will make no declaration to the Allied European Nations in the meantime. He hopes we will do as well as we expect to do.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  1. Meeting held at Lancaster House on Thursday, July 6, 1944, at 3:30 p.m. These minutes were prepared by Brig. Gen. Vincent Meyer, Ambassador Winant’s Chief Military Adviser, and were transmitted to the Department as an enclosure to despatch 17219, August 1, 1944, from London (not printed).
  2. A draft letter of invitation to these Governments in connection with the surrender of Germany had been prepared by the British delegation and circulated to the United States and Soviet Representatives at the end of June. The draft letter, not printed, was discussed and revised at an informal meeting of the European Advisory Commission held on July 10. At an informal meeting of the Commission on July 24 it was agreed to send the letter to the nine Allied European Governments on July 25, simultaneously with the sending of the Instrument of Surrender for Germany and the accompanying report from the Commission to the Governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. For text of the Surrender Instrument and the Report, see pp. 256 and 254, respectively. For text of the letter to the European Allied Governments, see infra.