Office of the Historian

103.9164: Telegram

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

London, September 18, 1944.
[Received September 18—5:22 p.m.]

7712. To Land for Conway and Morse from Reed by Chubb.

1.
Hurcomb advises Nicholson has met with our allocations people in Quebec and is bringing back an agreed basis as to allocations machinery. Can you confirm and advise whether we authorized to put this machinery forward to Planning Committee.
2.
Please advise progress made with Wackrill on tankers. Do you contemplate machinery similar to that discussed with Nicholson for tankers; if not, can you cable us what machinery is contemplated as we anticipate questions will be raised at Planning Committee.
3.
British have agreed to support our request that first meeting of Executive Board be held at Washington.
4.
With regard to nations not now signatory and not coming under paragraph 4 of Agreement, I find general feeling here is that, while such nations should in due course be notified, they should not be pressed to become signatories but should be dealt with through warrant control. Allison and Brown as well as Weston were under impression that no decision had been reached to invite such nations to accede, whereas I had gained impression from you that all ship-owning nations were to be pressed on this point. It is view of our delegation that we should not at this time seek too broad a group of signatories but if you have different view would appreciate your advices.
5.
Regarding chairmanship of sub-committees of Planning Committee, British desire chairmanship of tanker allocations, leaving ship warrants and short sea trades to Dutch and Norwegians or vice versa. Is this acceptable to you?
6.
Planning Committee meets Wednesday morning84 and any urgent instructions should be sent us Tuesday.
7.
Coded cables now subject substantial delay; suggest that to extent practicable, you transmit messages by clear cable. [Reed.]
Winant
  1. September 20.↩