800.0146/7–344
The British Chargé (Campbell) to the Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have now received the view of my Government on the proposals which you made in your letter to the Ambassador of May 18 for a Combined Liberated Areas Committee. His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom are in agreement with you that after the termination of the period of military responsibility there will remain a large number of questions affecting liberated areas and conquered enemy territory of concern to our two Governments and upon which agreement between us will be of the greatest importance. In particular, the necessity for ensuring smooth transition from military to civilian periods of responsibility is strongly felt by my Government. We recognise furthermore that the operation of [Page 316] Allied supply machinery, including the Combined Boards, will in so far as they affect liberated areas and conquered enemy areas, present a number of questions of supply and economic policy for decision by our two Governments, the consideration of which would be greatly facilitated by the existence of a committee such as you propose, to which these questions could be referred if it should seem to the two Governments to be desirable.
- 2.
- I note your suggestion that the Terms of Reference of the Committee should be broad enough to cover to the extent practicable all matters of policy relating to liberated areas from the date of termination of military control until such time as a broader method of economic collaboration is available. At that time it may be necessary to reconsider the position and functions of the Committee, and in the meantime it may not be desirable to attempt to lay down too rigidly what the Terms of Reference to the Committee should be. In this connection there is one relatively minor point to which I should like to refer. It has been found that certain non-supply questions of a financial or economic flavour within the province of the Combined Civil Affairs Committee could most appropriately be discussed in London and for that purpose the Combined Civil Affairs Committee, London, was set up. Questions of this nature are likely to continue to arise in the post-military period and to preserve continuity it would seem desirable at the proper time to set up machinery for their discussion in London.
- 3.
- These observations apart, I am instructed to inform you that His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom welcome the proposals which you have made and accept the invitation to join the Committee. I would therefore suggest that the Committee’s Terms of Reference and procedures should be a matter of more detailed discussion between officials of your Department and members of my staff.
Sincerely yours,