Office of the Historian

840.50/3831a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

Washington, June 16, 1944—midnight.

4784. In as much as the British delegation to the monetary conference will include Keynes, Kobertson,66 Robbins, Ronald and Snelling,67 all of whom participated in the Article VII discussions last October, it occurs to us that it may be possible to take advantage of their presence in this country for a brief resumption of those discussions. For the immediate purposes we have in view, the discussions need not be of longer duration than a few days or perhaps a week immediately following the monetary conference. They would, of course, be entirely informal and exploratory and confidential.

Our information as to the latest trends of British thought on the subjects considered during the last exploratory discussions is fragmentary and incomplete, and we should like very much, for purposes of assisting us in directing our own further thought, to have fuller information regarding the British thinking. Similarly the British would doubtless like to be acquainted with the result of our further study and consideration of these questions.

If the British Government should think favorably of the idea, it might wish to send other officials concerned in these discussions to participate in them. But the fact that part of the group would be here for the monetary conference would involve a minimum of travel and would facilitate avoiding publicity regarding the talks.

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We have in mind only a series of meetings for stock-taking of current thinking and developments on both sides and would not seek to arrive at definitive conclusions or commitments. We would consider it indispensable that discussions be resumed later in the year, in London if the British so desire, with a view to formulating detailed projects for consideration of the two Governments.

Please discuss the matter with the appropriate authorities in the above sense and advise us promptly of their reactions.

A copy of this telegram is being given informally to the British Embassy here.

Hull
  1. Dennis H. Robertson, Economic Adviser, British Treasury.↩
  2. A. W. Snelling, British Dominions Office.↩