103.9164: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 5—9:06 p.m.]
7262. To Morse, WSA, and Berle from Reed by Brown. In view of likelihood that questions about UMA69 may be asked at forthcoming UNRRA conference, British have suggested that we agree to a form of statement to be made if necessary; they suggest the following might be suitable:
“As a result of a conference in London the Governments of Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, United Kingdom and United States have accepted as a common responsibility the provision of shipping (among other purposes) for the supplying of all liberated areas. The contracting governments are now engaged in detailed discussions on necessary adjustments to be made in existing machinery for the control of ships’ employment.
The arrangements to be made will not extend beyond six months after the general suspension of hostilities in Europe or the Far East which ever may be the later.
When the contracting governments have further worked out the details of the new machinery they will consult with UNRRA on the relation between the proposed shipping organization and UNRRA. In general terms it may be stated that the responsibility for determining requirements programs for liberated territories will of course rest with the appropriate programming and supply authorities and will fall outside the ambit of the shipping machinery approved. Requirements programs will however require to be converted into shipping programs and their tonnage implication examined at this stage. Suitable provision will be made for consultation between the Shipping authorities and UNRRA and the national government concerned.”
Please let us have your comments.
The Allies are pressing for action in Planning Committee pointing out that Agreement was signed a month ago and that events are moving so rapidly on the Continent that if we do not act quickly we may not be ready in time. [Reed.]
- United Maritime Authority.↩