840.50/10–744: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
8208. Your 7857 of September 22 and Department’s 8015 of September 30.19 Department is of opinion and has so informed British Embassy here that preliminary discussions concerning proposed European Economic Commission should be held in London. Text of Department’s Memorandum is being sent under cover of instruction by air pouch.20 Department suggests that you await arrival of text before entering discussions with British and Russian representatives. You may wish, however, to indicate to Foreign Office and Russian Ambassador your anxiety to inaugurate the talks at early date. It is suggested that Sidney Mitchell and Wayne Jackson, who participated fully in discussions within the Department preparatory to draft of reply, may be helpful to you in talking to British and Russians on subject under reference. Department is telegraphing AmEmbassy Moscow21 informing it in foregoing sense and requesting Harriman to discuss the matter with appropriate Russian officials with a view to expediting early designation and briefing of Russian representative in London for these talks.