840.70/12–3144: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 31—2:52 p.m.]
11581. From EITO Delegation. During an excursion on December 29 arranged for the members of the delegations of the EITO Conference, we were informed separately by Hondelink, by Henzl of the Czechoslovak Delegation, and by Caranfil, the observer for the Rumanian Control Commission, that General Obydin (who leaves here tomorrow) had stated to each of them that in the view of the Soviet Delegation the draft agreement was technically substantially satisfactory in the revised form. Caranfil received the impression that Obydin was returning to Moscow at his own request in order to try to persuade his Government to accept the EITO agreement. It is not indicated whether Moscow, as distinct from the Delegation, has any technical objections to the agreement in its revised form.
Hondelink and Henzl received the impression that the Soviet Delegation expects us to go ahead with EITO as we had stated to them and to the Continentals that we would.
Henzl states that he has informed Obydin that the Czechs wish to join the organization, and that he has pointed out to Obydin that [Page 931] Czech participation, since it is generally agreed that they should be on the Executive Board, should be advantageous to the Soviets even if the latter are not prepared to become members at the outset. The Czech Ambassador in Moscow has been informed of this conversation and been instructed to make similar observations to the Soviet Government.
Henzl has recommended to the British and ourselves that, having waited so long, we can well afford to wait a little longer in order to give the Soviets a reasonable time to participate with us in the organization of EITO, and to avoid setting it up without them at the very moment when they may be on the point of indicating their willingness to go along with us.
Repeated to Moscow as 139. [EITO Delegation.]