Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

841.50/7–1944

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Acheson)

[Washington,] July 19, 1944.

Yesterday afternoon I had a private talk with Mr. Richard Law¹ during which he expressed the hope that we would not press for a final decision on the Eden White Paper² until Sir John Anderson, who may be in Washington later this summer, had a chance to talk with the President, Secretary Morgenthau, and Mr. Hull. I said I thought the matter could be postponed until then.

Mr. Law also referred to the attitude of FEA toward the British, which he felt to be unfortunate. In particular he mentioned the administration of the White Paper and thought it would be helpful if FEA would let Harry Whitney³ go to England in order to review this with the British.

I am asking Charley Taft⁴ to mention this to FEA.

E[dward] S[tettinius]

1. British Minister of State.
2. For the text of the British White Paper relating to distribution of lend-lease material, see Department of State Bulletin, September 13, 1941, p. 204; for correspondence on this subject, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. iii, pp. 16–36.
3. Harry Whitney, Director, White Paper Policy Staff, Foreign Economic Administration.
4. Charles P. Taft, Director of the Office of Wartime Economic Affairs.