840.70/10–1044: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 11—6:35 a.m.]
8575. For Berle from EITO Delegation. Formal opening of the EITO Conference was held this afternoon at Lancaster House under chairmanship of Mr. Noel-Baker, Parliamentary Secretary of War Transport Ministry. Formal statements were made by the Ambassador and the heads of the other Delegations and the Conference approved the draft agreement as a basis for discussion. The next session will be Thursday morning October 12 when the Conference will meet as a committee under chairmanship of Sir Cyril Hurcomb, Director General of MWT.51
While most speeches this afternoon were in general terms, the French and Greek spokesmen expressed the opinion that the organization when set up should be purely temporary and have a definite date for termination. Some of the other delegates stated they would have amendments to propose later.
[Page 821]A short press release was decided upon by the Conference which stated in general terms the purpose of the Conference as being to discuss arrangements regarding inland transport in Continental Europe after the liberation of United Nations territories in Europe as well as after the occupation of any enemy territory. These arrangements would be with a view to ensuring rapid movement of military and civil supplies as well as the transport of displaced persons and also to creating conditions favorable to the early restoration of normal traffic. The nations represented were listed.
In accordance with the Department’s 8298, October 9, 10 p.m., the Embassy informed the French of the Department’s approval of their specific inclusion in Article III, section 5, of the draft agreement. The British have also informed the French of their approval and while the Russians have stated they too had no objection to the inclusion of the French they insisted that the matter not be brought up at today’s meeting. [EITO Delegation.]
- British Ministry of War Transport.↩