840.70/10–544: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 5—4:27 p.m.]
8366. To Berle from Allison, Moats and Hooker. ReEmbs 8312, October 4; reDepts 8092, October 3. At the first meeting with the Soviets Wednesday evening October 4, they stated their approval of the Interim Commission subject to amendments to the draft directive which they will submit, probably Friday, and their willingness to participate as the third member. One of the main British arguments for not going on with the Interim Commission as such and [has] been their belief that the Russians would not join us. After a SHAEF representative, to whom we talked yesterday before the meeting with the Russians, had reiterated SHAEF’s endorsement of the draft directive to the Interim Commission, the British had agreed that if the Russians would join us the informal committee would have the scope and functions of the Interim Commission, the principal difference being the smaller degree of publicity which the committee would receive. Since, however, the substitution of a different body for the Interim Commission might have led to delay and confusion on the part of the Russians, the British were persuaded to return to the original idea. The Russians meanwhile agreed that the organization of the Interim Commission should be carried on quietly without publicity so far as the continental Allies were concerned. (The representatives of the ACC for Italy at a meeting this morning agreed with SHAEF in endorsing the draft directive for the Interim Commission.)
The Soviets were informed that the British and American members of the Commission would be ready to go to work next week and they indicated their satisfaction, but it is not yet clear whether their nominee to the Commission will be prepared to do likewise. The British state that Barrington-Ward will probably be their member. He has attended our meetings with SHAEF and the Italian ACC in the last two days. Clay and Williams should, therefore, leave as soon as possible.46 (ReDepts 8092, October 3.)
The Soviets then stated their approval of the draft agreement subject to amendments which they also will submit, probably Friday. They indicated they felt the organization should not be an “economic and directive body but coordinating and consultative”. This implies some misunderstanding of its intended powers and functions.
[Page 811]At the request of the Soviets, who expressed a desire to review the draft agreement thoroughly with us before the Conference convenes, the opening date of the Conference will be postponed until Tuesday, October 10, on the ground that not all of the nations invited have yet replied. The opening meeting will be purely formal and if the tripartite discussions are not then complete the next meeting of the Conference can be put off several days. The Soviets stated they felt this arrangement gave sufficient time to complete the tripartite discussions, it being understood that they will be held during the weekend.
It was agreed that while English is to be the language of the Conference the final documents will be in both English and Russian.
ReDepts 7960, September 29. The Foreign Office states that the Soviet Delegation state they are instructed to represent also the Rumanian Control Commission and that a Rumanian expert may be appointed later by agreement between the Soviet Government and the Control Commission for Rumania. We have agreed with the British that UNRRA, SHAEF, SACMED and the ACC for Italy may not participate in plenary sessions of the Conference and may participate only as observers with a right to be heard at other sessions or committee meetings but not as members. Membership would be limited to representatives of the Governments invited. In the light of these circumstances, has the Department any instructions as to the position we should take with respect to the Soviet Delegation’s representing the Rumanian Control Commission?
The British have now informed us that Noel-Baker, Parliamentary Secretary of MWT, will be head of their Delegation. [Allison, Moats, and Hooker.]
- The Department announced the scheduled departure of Clay in telegram 8206, October 7, and of Williams in telegram 8511, October 14 (840.70/10–744, 10–1444).↩