800.796/656a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
2286. From Berle. Present plans are to leave for England for exploratory aviation conferences on March 31, arriving England April 1. Edward Warner, Vice Chairman, Civil Aeronautics Board, [Page 427] will come along as technical adviser. We hope Satterthwaite may be attached to us on arrival.
The Department, and we gather also the British Government, prefers that this trip shall not overlap with Stettinius’ visit, and we therefore hope to be able to take a plane home on April 7. This should give ample time to take the subject as far as it can be taken now. The Soviet Government has indicated that it wishes to hold conversations here and has named a group headed by Ambassador Gromyko. They will probably not be ready to begin much before April 10, but Ambassador Grew and Mr. Welch Pogue will be available should they desire to start earlier. We understand the British Government has indicated its willingness likewise to talk to the Soviet representatives.
For your confidential information, we expect to spend two days in Canada getting the Canadian viewpoint.
The Department contemplates a brief statement to appear April 1 that Mr. Berle and Mr. Warner have gone to London for the purpose of exchanging views on civil aviation with the British Government looking towards international negotiations later in the summer. No announcement of Canadian talks is contemplated, except that the Canadians will, if questioned, state that the two men named paused in Canada en route to London to exchange ideas. [Berle.]