103.9164/9–544: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

7164. SD 3992. To Reed for Brown, WSA, from Admiral Land and Morse. ReEmbs 6964 and 6889.69a

(1)
(A) We withdraw suggestion that there be a Washington section of the Planning Committee on understanding that first meeting of the Executive Board be held in Washington at which report of Planning Committee will be presented and acted upon and on further condition that Anglo-American agreement on matters of allocations be reached in Washington before such matters are discussed by Planning Committee in London.
(B) We still think it would be desirable for obvious reasons to have London experts on dry cargo as well as tanker allocations meet with us in Washington. We want British Allocations Representatives to bring with them an employment table and detailed allocation statement of all BMWT controlled tonnage including exposition of current and anticipated requirements. It is essential that Anglo-American conferees here have all of this U.K. data together with similar U.S. data in order to agree upon plans for presentation to Allocations Sub-committee in London. For your personal information our allocations experts feel MWT has not fully reciprocated in disclosure of vessel employment data and WSA must take position that full exchange of such information be prerequisite to any discussions on plans for allocations machinery under UMEB.
(2)
We agree to suggestion that subcommittees be divided between nations represented on Executive Board and suggest that there be a U.S. chairman for dry cargo allocations, Norwegian chairman for tanker allocations, U.K. chairman for warrants and Dutch chairman for coastal and short sea trade.
(3)
Percy Chubb70 will be the U.S. Representative on the Planning Committee. He will be assisted by John Mann on ships warrants and by Philip Everett71 and John F. McArt72 on freight rates and possibly by another general advisor.73 Entire party expect to leave for London by plane about the 8th or 9th of September. We will advise exact date later. Consider it inadvisable to set definite [Page 690] date to begin Planning Committee meetings until our delegation arrives and they have had an opportunity to discuss points in question with British.
(4)
We have had some discussions regarding notification of UNRRA. However, as this is an international body, we believe that joint U.S.–U.K. notification through State Department and Foreign Office is desirable but that it should be simultaneous with publication of full text of agreement. However neither should be done until Swedish situation is clarified and Sweden invited to subscribe to principles. [Land and Morse.]
Hull
  1. Ante, pp. 686 and 684, respectively.
  2. Deputy Administrator for Fiscal Affairs, War Shipping Administration.
  3. Assistant to Deputy Administrator, War Shipping Administration.
  4. Director, Division of Freight Rates and Surcharges, War Shipping Administration.
  5. Department’s telegram 7181, September 5, 10 p.m., stated that Trygve Holmgren would assist Chubb as General Adviser and that Chubb’s party would be leaving about the 7th or 8th of September (103.9164/9–544).