Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, General: Economic and Social Matters, Volume II

740.58112A/63: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

Washington, January 1, 1944—2 p.m.

2. For Francis Russell² from Homer,³ FEA, and Baker.⁴ Assuming that you have approved the text set forth on the cover of the lists, which we have not seen, and that it makes no reference to post-war listing, we feel that if Stockholm should be requested to issue a statement in connection with distribution of the lists, it should limit its initial remarks to an elaboration of the text. A reference to Dingle Foot’s remarks in Commons⁵ might invite further inquiry and thus squarely raise issue of giving post-war listing statement set forth in Department’s 6923 of November 4⁶ as amended by subsequent communications.

We feel that no statement regarding post-war listing policy should be made by either the British or the American Legation, without prior reference to the Department. If full agreement with the British in respect of the statement referred to in our 6923, November 4, and subsequent correspondence has been reached, we believe that the statement which could then be made would be more effective than giving publicity to Foot’s remarks.

We have not replied to Stockholm’s 4171 of December 29,⁷ repeated to London as Stockholm’s 846, and if you concur in our views and have approved the text, we suggest that the Embassy inform Stockholm accordingly and state that the Department concurs.⁸

Hull

2. Francis H. Russell, Acting Chief of the Division of World Trade Intelligence.
3. Sidney Homer, Jr., Chief of Enforcement Section, Blockade Division, Foreign Economic Administration.
4. George W. Baker, Assistant Chief of the Division of World Trade Intelligence.
5. Dingle Mackintosh Foot, Parliamentary Secretary for the British Ministry of Economic Warfare. On November 9, 1943, Mr. Foot had made a written reply to the question by Capt. L. F. Plugge as to whether he would “give an assurance that after the war assistance given to the enemy by firms in neutral countries will, so far as British trade is concerned, be taken into account in international dealings”. Mr. Foot’s reply was as follows: “I can hardly give an assurance in the precise form suggested. But I should like to make it clear that firms and traders in European neutral countries should not too hastily assume that, when the Armistice is signed, we will at once forget those who have elected to assist our enemies.” (Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, 5th series, vol. 393, cols. 1114, 1115.)
6. Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. v, p. 342.
7. Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. v, p. 347.
8. The Embassy concurred in the Department’s views and, accordingly, informed Stockholm in telegram 7, January 6. The message was subsequently repeated to the Department in London’s telegram 203, January 9, 4 p.m. (not printed).