800.85/7–744: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 8—1:02 a.m.]
5383. Foreign Office feels it is important that the Soviet Government be notified of the projected shipping conference at the same time invitations to the conference are issued to the other governments of the United Nations. It is in substantial agreement with the procedure as outlined in Department’s 5260 July 4, 6 p.m. and proposes to send the British Ambassador, Moscow, the instruction quoted below:
“We have been discussing with the United States Government the arrangements necessary to ensure that merchant ships continue after the termination of European hostilities to be used to discharge the tasks of the United Nations. The United Kingdom and United States Governments propose to discuss this matter with the other governments of the United Nations and with the French Committee of National Liberation who have contributed ships to the existing United Nations shipping pool and for this purpose hope to be able to arrange discussions in London at a very early date on the basis of the attached memorandum (see my immediate following telegram). It is hoped that as a result of the discussions it will be possible to reach agreement as to the measures to be taken.
2. The arrangement contemplated would be an adjustment of that now in force and the two Governments have in mind the possibility that the Soviet Government may in due course desire to become more intimately associated with it.”
It will be noted that the British have used the phrase “in due course” rather than “at a later date” which had been suggested by the Department.
Foreign Office feels that phrase it suggests does not give the impression that an attempt is being made to prevent the Soviet Government from taking part in the conversations if it should desire to do so. Foreign Office also believes that the final sentence suggested by the Department beginning “in such situation” and ending “Soviet participation” should be omitted as it feels it has a slight tenor [of?] condescension and is in fact unnecessary in view of the notification being given to the Soviet Government of the projected conversations.
Because of the desire of the British to issue invitations early next week for the conference to begin on July 24 and because of their desire [Page 662] to inform the Soviet Government at the same time as stated above, the British instructions to Moscow will be sent as given above unless the Department indicates some objection prior to July 11.