800.6363/1523: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
600. Reference is made to the Department’s press release of March 7 containing the Acting Secretary’s announcement regarding the forthcoming [Page 107] conversations with the British on oil. You will have received this announcement by Radio Bulletin. Relative to the last sentence of your telegram 784 of March 9, it is contemplated that these conversations will be entirely between the British and ourselves. There will first be preparatory technical discussions between American and British experts on oil problems of mutual interest to the two Governments. These discussions will lead as rapidly as possible to conversations between high level groups representing the two Governments. The Secretary of State is chairman of the American group at the high level.
Your attention is called to the following statements contained in the announcement: 1. Should these conversations lead to conclusions, no decision affecting producing areas will be taken without consultation with the governments of the countries concerned, and 2. This Government is at all times ready to discuss economic problems with any other friendly country concerning petroleum questions of mutual interest.
If you consider it advisable, you should bring these statements to the attention of the appropriate Soviet authorities.