840.70/11–1644: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 16—10:35 a.m.]
10021. Department’s 9601 of November 15. Ronald advises that the Foreign Minister has not yet had an opportunity to give consideration either to the proposed British reply to the Department’s suggested answer to the Soviet note, to the revised text of Article XI embodying the “Ronald formula”, or to the procedure suggested by the Department to us in the second section of the Department’s 9526 of November 12 [13] and, so Ronald informs us, also suggested by the Department to Halifax and by him communicated to the Foreign Office. This procedure, as reported in our 9978 of November 15, was also proposed by us to Ronald.
Ronald this morning says that he does not understand the reasons advanced by the Department for wishing the delegations to be informally advised, in advance of delivery of the United States–United Kingdom replies to the Soviet, that informal discussions will be held outside of committee to arrive at an acceptable text. We informed him that it was the wish of the Department that this procedure be adopted and that the reasons advanced were considered on our part to be valid. We stated moreover that we were unable to perceive any reason whatever why the delegations should not be informally advised in advance of United States–United Kingdom replies to the Soviet as desired by the Department.
Ronald stated that he would endeavor to let us know as promptly as possible whether or not they felt able to approve this procedure.