102.1/1057a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the
Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
Washington, April 10,
1944—10 p.m.
2835. From the Secretary of the Treasury. I appreciate your help in trying to
expedite the decision on whether to publish the Joint Statement of
principles. Please call upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer and give him
this message:
- “1. I have received the cable of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer. I want to emphasize again that my inquiry No. 2951
[2651] of April 5, 1944 is solely
concerned with the prompt decision on publication of the
recommendations of the technical experts and not with the larger
question of the attitude of the governments on the
proposals.
- 2. When the Joint Statement of principles was drafted, the
experts of the United States and the United Kingdom had
constantly in mind that no formal commitment of governments at
this stage of the discussion should be called for. It was
clearly understood by both groups that this was to be so and
accordingly the following provision [Page 109] was written into the Joint Statement:
‘Governments are not asked to give final approval to these
principles until they have been embodied in the form of definite
proposals by the delegates of the United and Associated Nations
meeting in a formal conference.’ In view of this provision I
fail to understand why the question is being raised in
connection with the publication of the Joint Statement.
- 3. We are quite aware that you will want an opportunity for
debate on the Joint Statement in Parliament. It was specifically
agreed that a period of a week or so immediately after the
publication of the Joint Statement would suffice for
Parliamentary debate. A final decision to call a conference
would not be made until after the debate.
- 4. It has now become necessary for me to appear sometime next
week before the appropriate committees of Congress and advise
them either that agreement has been reached among the
technicians or explain the inability of the technicians to go
forward with the contemplated program. It would obviously be of
considerable help if I could announce when I appear before the
Congressional committees that the Joint Statement would be
published the next day and I could communicate the text of the
Joint Statement to them.
- 5. I feel that the U.K. Treasury representatives have placed
us in a most embarrassing position by their delay in indicating
to us their decision on the sole matter of publication of the
Joint Statement. The anomalous position in which we are placed
has made it impossible for us to keep the Congress, our public
and other governments informed, has given rise to harmful
rumors, and has increased the difficulty of carrying through our
program. Unless we hear immediately that the Joint Statement can
be published next week (in time to clear with the technicians of
other countries before my meeting with the Congressional
committees) then it is my personal opinion that we shall not be
able to hold a conference this year. This has all been made
clear to Waley,7 Grant8 and
Opie9 on the occasions
of their return to London for the information of the appropriate
officials in London.”
