800.85/6–3044: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
5260. From Berle. Your reference 4775, June 14, 1944, Land from Reed, and 5172, June 30, 1944, 5 p.m., Berle from Winant.28 The Department has received a letter from Lord Halifax dated June 15, 1944 together with two enclosures: (1) containing suggested list of nations to be invited, namely, Norway, Holland, Greece, Belgium, Poland, France and Canada, with proposed procedure in issuing invitations, and (2) containing proposed text of invitation.
The Department concurs in that invitations be jointly issued to the foregoing nations. The Department is submitting to Lord Halifax29 for his approval a redraft of the invitation which has the effect of making this a joint document. The text of the proposed invitation as approved by the Department is being transmitted in a following telegram.29a
Lord Halifax’s letter suggests that Russia be informed of these plans. The Department believes this information should be given to the Soviet Government jointly by the Ambassador of the United Kingdom and the Ambassador of the United States in Moscow. Accordingly, instructions in this regard are being issued directly to Harriman.
[Page 660]The Department has proposed to Lord Halifax that the joint procedure in Moscow be as follows: the Ambassadors of the United Kingdom and of the United States in Moscow shall jointly make a statement to the Soviet Government to the effect that the arrangement now contemplated is an extension of the shipping arrangements heretofore prevailing but that our two Governments have in mind the possibility that the Soviet Union may desire at a later date to become more intimately connected with these arrangements. In such situation, the two Governments will be glad to give sympathetic consideration to Soviet participation.
For your information Lord Halifax has been informed that participation by Brazil has been under discussion in the sense that Brazil be not brought into the proposed control organization at this time but that Brazil be informed of the arrangement, thus placing Brazil in the position of having had the opportunity to ask for participation if desired. The Brazilian Ambassador has been notified. It is understood that, if at a later time the Brazilian Government seeks admission to the arrangement as it then may appear, the United States will support and endorse Brazil’s application for membership in the control organization.
You will be notified immediately when the Department receives Lord Halifax’s answer to these suggestions.
Mr. Morse has postponed his departure until July 6. [Berle.]