Office of the Historian

840.50/8–544: Telegram

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

London, August 5, 1944—8 p.m.
[Received 11 p.m.]

6286. Berle from Radius. ReDept 6101, August 2, midnight. The matter of informal preliminary talks with the Continental Allies has been discussed with British and Hondelink. It is our view that when the draft EITO agreement is transmitted to the continental governments a date should be set for the conference. Preliminary informal discussions could take place in the interim.

Hondelink who is in close touch with the Allies believes that the latter understand that an agreement has been drafted based upon the work and proposals of their representatives in TACIT.11 He further believes that the draft EITO agreement is substantially in accord with their views. The Allies would not feel that we were presenting them with a fait accompli in inviting them to a conference to consider the draft EITO agreement if due recognition were given in the invitation to the work the Allies have already done. On the other hand a series of scheduled preliminary talks at this stage would be time consuming and might give the impression that we were introducing a new proposal. If the agreement were put to the Allies as the next step in the development of the work of the TACIT Committee there would be little need for extended preliminary discussions. The invitation could indicate that the inviting governments would be glad to meet with any of the Allied Governments prior to the conference to explain informally any points which needed clarification. No steps would be taken without Soviet participation or approval.

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It is also our view that the conference should follow the pattern of the shipping conference; i.e., an initial meeting of the full delegations to agree that (1) there is a need for an organization like EITO and (2) that draft agreement provides a satisfactory basis for discussion. The work of going over the draft in detail could then be referred to a main committee of experts. It is quite probable that in most cases the governments would designate their TACIT representatives to this committee.

A draft of invitation will be transmitted shortly to Department. Does Department agree to Embassy proceeding along lines indicated above? [Radius.]

Winant
  1. Technical Advisory Committee on Inland Transport.↩