800.796/12–144: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:26 p.m.]
10608. Personal to the Secretary and for the President.
Before receiving Department’s 10024 of November 30 late last night, I had already followed up the President’s message to the Prime Minister covering agreement on the aviation program at the Chicago Conference and had urged the acceptance of the Canadian compromise. I talked with Eden, Beaverbrook and Churchill. The Cabinet met yesterday afternoon and I was informed by Beaverbrook that before he could communicate their decision to Swinton, the Conference had adjourned. The intention of the Cabinet was to accept the compromise but at the same time ask for a small passenger rate differential on pickups on long hauls. This was less than what we wanted. Churchill and Beaverbrook went over with me the message that was dispatched to the President this afternoon.21 Churchill said that he would be glad to reopen the subject at any time convenient [Page 597] to us. Beaverbrook was plainly uncomfortable at this meeting. I blame him most for the failure of the Conference.
Once the President and twice the Department have asked me to intervene in support of our position at the Conference. I did everything I could to persuade the Prime Minister to accept the President’s wishes and I am very sorry that I failed to get done what he wanted done. On the other hand, I want you to know that I could have been far more effective in talking with the Prime Minister if I had been properly informed. The British had reams of papers covering every detail of the Conference’s discussions. I had nothing beyond the President’s messages which covered only one or two particular points of disagreement. I hope this will not happen again with the man who is chosen to continue in my post. Even our Civil Air Attaché had been assigned to the Conference.
- Infra.↩