800.796/702: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:05 p.m.]
2960. The Soviet Ambassador82 asked me about the meetings with the British on civil aviation, and after talking it over with Mr. Berle it was agreed that I should give him this information. In the course of a call which I made on Gousev on Saturday83 I therefore informed him of the background and the results of the preliminary discussions with the British and let him know that Mr. Berle had told me he was going to have similar discussions with the Russian aviation expert in Washington. I stressed the fact that the talks here were an exchange of views only, and that no commitments or agreements would be made until a full international conference. I said that the Canadians, the British and we were in agreement that such a conference would serve a useful purpose, and we hoped that it could be held during this year.
Please telegraph Embassy summary of results of the discussions with Russians in Washington.