111 Advisory Committee/239d: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
2519. The following information is being sent to inform you of recent developments concerning shipping controls. A memorandum containing suggestions for the international control of shipping after the liberation of Europe was received from the British Embassy on March 7. The Special Committee on Shipping, under Berle’s chairmanship,2 has had this same question under consideration for some time and recently approved a subcommittee report on the question of shipping controls between now and the end of the war. The Committee recommendations provide for:
- 1.
- The continuation of the present Combined Shipping Adjustment Boards.
- 2.
- The establishment of a Combined Shipping Commission with an American and British member to handle matters of shipping policy calling for joint action by the United Nations and neutrals. Recommendations of this Board would be submitted to the respective national shipping authorities for approval and action.
- 3.
- An advisory committee composed of shipping executives of interested nations would be established. This body would make recommendations to the Combined Shipping Commission.
- 4.
- A Technical Committee representing all maritime nations would be set up to study standards of safety of navigation and to submit recommendations to the Combined Shipping Commission.
The main differences between Shipping Committee recommendations and the British proposal of March 7 are as follows:
- 1.
- The proposal of the Shipping Committee would establish a single organization with an American and a British head, who would report to the existing CSAB.3 This organization might evolve into a continuing international body. The proposal of the British establishes a new international Council with Executive Boards in Washington and London. The relationship of this new organization to the CSAB and its jurisdiction are not clearly defined.
- 2.
- The proposal of the Shipping Committee maintains merchant shipping under joint United States–United Kingdom control. Provision is made for participation by other countries through the Advisory Committee. As problems in the European area shift from military to economic fields, other countries could be admitted to the Commission. The proposal of the British provides representation of all maritime governments in the Council with representation on the Executive Boards on a limited basis.
- 3.
- The proposal of the Shipping Committee calls for the early establishment of the Combined Shipping Commission. The proposal of the British implies that the Council would be established after hostilities ceased.
In general the British proposal establishes a broader international agency with direct representation of many countries. The proposal of the Shipping Committee establishes an organization based upon the present CSAB which could be developed into a more representative international body as circumstances permitted.