800.6363/2–2544: Telegram
The British Prime Minister (Churchill) to President Roosevelt 7
591. Your telegram of February 22nd8 was brought to me by Winant and I told him that I was much concerned at the way things were developing. Our Cabinet are quite willing to have a technical enquiry into the oil position throughout the world. We should then know how we both stood.
The Cabinet however has definitely expressed the following view, namely:
First, that the enquiry should be on the official level in the first instance in order to ascertain the facts.
Secondly, they would prefer that it should take place here in London, and
Thirdly, that we should be authorized to state to Parliament that no proposal will be made to change the existing ownership of oil interests in the Middle East on which, as you know, our Navy depends or elsewhere.
Your telegram dismisses all these points and if you will allow me to say so seemed to convey your decision on these matters.
When I read the telegrams to the Cabinet this evening I found them also very much disturbed at the apparent possibility of a wide difference opening between the British and United States Governments [Page 103] on such a subject and at such a time. I have called for reports from the Ministers particularly concerned and will bring the matter before the Cabinet again in a few days. Meanwhile I trust you will not commit yourself to any public announcement because I am by no means sure that we could endorse it. Should the matter become public, otherwise than by agreement, debates will take place in Parliament at which all kinds of things would be said which would darken counsel and be resented on your side of the ocean.
I am deeply grieved that all these troubles should arise at a time when you have so many worries to contend with, and you may be sure that I will on every occasion do my best to be helpful. But I feel sure that to open up these matters with the maximum publicity without knowing where they will lead us might do real harm to Anglo-American relations.