800.515/9–1644: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:16 p.m.]
7652. ReDepts 7189, September 5, midnight and Embassy’s 7522, September 13, 8 p.m. The ForOff told us this afternoon that it had had second thought with respect to addressing a note to certain neutrals regarding the implementation of Resolution VI of the Bretton Woods Conference. The ForOff now feels that it is perhaps unwise to attempt, as Ronald’s preliminary draft sent in our 7522, did, to spell out the meaning of Resolution VI. It therefore proposes to address a note substantially the same as that proposed by the Department. In order to meet Ronald’s point that the resolutions of the Bretton Woods Conference were only adopted as referendum it is proposed that the note read “the delegates of the 44 nations assembled … adopted the following resolution.”
Because of the feeling of the ForOff that the measures set forth in the resolution cover wide territory and are difficult of exact interpretation, it suggests that the sentence in the Department’s note which states “my Government calls upon your Government to institute the measures set forth in the resolution” should be amended to read “my Government calls upon your Government to institute such measures as will fulfill the aims of the United Nations as expressed in the resolution.” The British representatives are being instructed by the ForOff to refer in case they are asked what the aims of the United Nations are, to the [Page 232] last paragraph to the preamble of Resolution VI beginning “whereas, the United Nations have declared their intention et cetera.”
The question was also raised as to whether or not a like note would be addressed to Argentina. The ForOff state that inasmuch as the United Kingdom still maintains diplomatic relations with Argentina and as it feels that Argentina would probably be one of the great loopholes, it desires to address such a note to it. It also desires to address a note to Turkey but in view of the fact that Turkey has broken off relations with the Axis it would be addressed in a milder manner. Instead of using the words “call upon” ForOff, would use “expresses the hope that Turkey will institute such measures.”
The present attitude of the ForOff, as indicated above, has so far been approved only at the official level and it was made clear that before final instructions could be sent to the British Missions it must have ministerial approval. It is believed that this will be obtained within 10 days and the ForOff hopes that the Department will agree to postponing the presentation of its note for that length of time so that the British and American notes may be presented about the same time although not necessarily simultaneously.