Office of the Historian

840.50/8–3144: Telegram

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

London, August 31, 1944.
[Received August 31—9:19 p.m.]

7097. For Berle, Hooker and Radius. The following are the texts of drafts A and B of the communication to the European Allies transmitting the draft EITO agreement:

Draft A

1.
The Governments of the United Kingdom, United States of America (and USSR) have had under consideration the problem of the organization and rehabilitation of inland transport in Europe after liberation.
2.
It must be assumed that after the liberation of United Nations’ territories and the occupation of enemy territories in Europe there will be widespread shortage and maldistribution of all forms of transport material and a general dislocation of the transport systems. It will be necessary to secure additional equipment for United Nations’ territories and to redistribute equipment at present under enemy control. For these purposes a central authority for allocation and distribution of transport equipment and material will be required. Moreover, in the conditions prevailing on the cessation of hostilities in Europe there will be need for an organization able to ensure the rapid movement of traffic of common concern to the United Nations such as relief and military traffic and the coordinated development of measures for rehabilitating the national transport systems.
3.
The need for an organization to deal with these and related problems was recognized in the proposals that have already been submitted to your Government and the other Allied Governments by the Technical Advisory Committee on Inland Transport set up by the Inter-Allied Committee on Postwar Requirements.
4.
The Governments of the United Kingdom, United States (and USSR) have further consulted on the subject and now submit in the form of the annexed draft agreement a proposal for the immediate establishment of an European Inland Transport Organization. The provisions of the draft agreement are based to a large extent on the work done by and the proposals of the Allied experts on the Technical Advisory Committee on Inland Transport.
5.
The progress of the United Nations’ armies in Europe and the necessity for considerable planning to be done before an organization of the kind proposed could operate effectively make it a matter of high urgency that such an organization should be set up as soon as possible. The Governments of the United Kingdom, United States of America (and USSR) therefore propose that there should be early discussions among the Governments of the United Nations concerned and for this purpose His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom will be glad if your Government will arrange to be represented at a conference to begin in London on 25th September.
In the interim between the present date and the convening of the conference on September 25th, the Governments of the United Kingdom, United States (and the USSR) will be glad to receive the comments of your Government and to discuss with representatives of your Government any enquiries that your Government may wish to make on the proposals contained in the draft agreement.
6.
Some time must inevitably elapse before an agreement on the lines of the annexed draft can become effective. It is hoped that there will be a minimum of delay. Meanwhile, however, there are urgent problems in the field of transport demanding immediate planning [Page 780] and collaboration between the United Nations concerned. For instance:
(A)
The military authorities will require technical assistance in many transport questions, particularly these relating to movement of traffic across national frontiers and the possible continuance or revival of machinery for facilitating such movement.
(B)
Estimates of requirements for transport equipment need to be sponsored with the appropriate supply authorities and orders placed within the allocations made.
(C)
In order that the European Inland Transport Organization when set up may be ready to operate promptly and efficiently detailed plans need to be made and staff to be engaged or earmarked in advance. In particular, arrangements need to be made to ensure:
(1)
Continuity in transport control between the military and post military periods and
(2)
Availability to the organization when set up of information about the transport conditions obtaining during the military period.
7.
With these considerations in mind the Governments of the United Kingdom, United States of America (and USSR) have decided to establish immediately an Interim Commission on European Inland Transport to provide for the period during which all of the governments concerned are considering arrangements for a European Transport Organization along the lines of that proposed in the draft agreement and to fill the gap until such an organization can be established. The Commission will work under a directive, a copy of which is annexed, and will be responsible to the Governments of the United Kingdom, United States of America (and USSR).
8.
In order to carry out its work effectively the Interim Commission will need the services of experts who are nationals of the European countries concerned. It is hoped that your Government will facilitate the provision of such staff.
9.
The Commission will also need to be in contact with the Governments of the European United Nations concerned. It is, therefore, proposed to establish an advisory committee to the Commission upon which it is hoped that your Government will designate a member.
10.
A similar communication has been addressed to the Governments of (countries to be specified) and the French Committee of National Liberation.

Draft B

As in draft A but omit words in parentheses and substitute following alternative paragraphs for paragraphs 4 and 5 of draft A.

  • “4. The Governments of the United Kingdom and United States of America now submit in the form of the annexed draft agreement proposals for the immediate establishment of an European Inland [Page 781] Transport Organization. The draft agreement has their general approval. The Government of the USSR has stated that it attaches importance to the early restoration and coordination of European Inland Transport in the period following the end of hostilities on the European Continent and has been fully informed of the discussions leading to the draft agreement on which, however, it is not yet in a position to indicate its attitude. The proposals made in the draft agreement are based to a large extent on the work done by the Allied experts on the Technical Advisory Committee on Inland Transport.
  • 5. The Governments of the United Kingdom and United States of America hope that it will be possible to hold a conference to discuss the draft agreement towards the end of September. In the meantime they will be glad to receive the comments of your Government and to discuss with representatives of your Government any enquiries that your Government may wish to make on the proposals contained in the draft agreement.”
Winant