Office of the Historian

800.24/7–144

Memorandum by the Secretary of State to President Roosevelt 79

Washington, July 1, 1944.

I transmit a copy of the note80 on the above subject81 which was recently sent the British Ambassador with your approval. The essence of that note is in the following sentence:

“It is the policy of the American Government that transfers to third countries of munitions of a kind which either Government has received from the other shall be by agreement between the appropriate authorities of the two Governments.”

The note represents the considered views of the State, War and Navy Departments. The policy set forth is designed not to meet a theoretical situation but to prevent actual abuses.

I am informed that Dr. Isador Lubin82 communicated with Mr. Stettinius on June 2383 and expressed the view that “the British would probably object to the proposed arrangement”, and in that event he felt the question should be reopened. Dr. Lubin called later to say that he had meanwhile discussed the matter with you; that you had misunderstood the significance of the note to Lord Halifax; and that if the British make a counter-proposal you would be willing to adjust the position we have taken in the note in question.

I think it would be a serious mistake to retreat from the position which we have taken. The policy set forth in the note to Lord Halifax is designed to put an end to specific abuses and for the protection of vital American interests. I do not believe that we could justify, from a domestic political point of view, a procedure whereby the British, without our agreement, transfer to third powers, often for political purposes, military items similar to those which they have received from us under Lend-Lease. Moreover, I feel that there is no sound reason why our point of view should not be accepted by the British particularly since the procedure suggested is reciprocal.

I think, therefore, that we should stand firm on the policy set forth in that note and make every effort to induce the British Government to accept it.

  1. File copy of this memorandum contains the marginal note: “OK FDR”. According to a memorandum from the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Murray) to Under Secretary of State Stettinius, July 6, 1944, President Roosevelt’s endorsement was given on July 3 (841.24/2253).↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. Disposition by United Kingdom of military materials similar to those received under Lend-Lease.↩
  4. Chairman of the Statistical Analysis Branch of the Munitions Assignments Board.↩
  5. Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius) to the Secretary of State, June 23, 1944; not printed (841.24/2253).↩