800.796/559b: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
389. The following message has been sent to London.35
“On February 21 First Secretary Wright of the British Embassy presented a memorandum agreeing that post-war civil aviation matters should be discussed in a preliminary way with a view to a subsequent international conference at some convenient date. The memorandum welcomed our proposal that the Russians and the Chinese should be given an opportunity to be present at the preliminary discussions, but stated further that the British Government felt it appropriate that the Dominions other than Canada should also participate in the proposed discussions. The memorandum transmitted a draft agenda covering major items which appeared to the British to be suitable for discussions.
“On February 23 the Department replied to the British memorandum, stating that we had contemplated exchanges of views between certain countries which would presumably result in a United Nations conference. As a beginning we had planned independent bilateral conversations, to be held at approximately the same time, between this country and the United Kingdom and Canada, as well as Soviet Russia, China and Brazil if they care to participate. We would undertake to furnish a summary of these talks to each government joining in such conversations. It was stated that this Government also proposed to invite a few other governments, including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, to participate in discussions probably immediately after, or as a continuation of the main conversations with the first-mentioned group.
“In handing the Department’s memorandum to Wright, it was explained orally that while we were sympathetic with the British desire to have all the Dominions included in the first talk, this appeared very difficult due to the fact that other countries would also wish to participate and that joint discussions involving such a large group would be unmanageable.
“The Department assumes that you can obtain a copy of the British agenda. It would be very helpful if the Embassy could forward the Department as soon as possible (with a summary by telegraph, if feasible) background information of British views and objectives, and the arguments which will be advanced in support thereof, covering the specific points in the British draft agenda.”
Reference Department’s 309, February 15, 8 p.m. Without unduly pressing the matter, will you please endeavor to ascertain whether the Soviet Government is interested in joining in bilateral discussions as described above. While it is now contemplated that talks with the British and the Canadians will probably take place about the third week in March, any time after this which is convenient to the Soviet Government would be satisfactory with us.
- As telegram 1362, February 23, 10 p.m.↩