Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The Near East, South Asia, and Africa, The Far East, Volume V

811.91245/45

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Calvin H. Oakes of the Division of Middle Eastern Affairs

[Washington,] May 24, 1944.

Participants:	Mr. Harry Flory23	}	United Press
	Mr. John Morris24
	Mr. DeWolf—TD25
	Messrs. Murray
	Allen26
	Kohler
	Oakes

[Here follows lengthy discussion of problems involved in the desire of the United Press to secure facilities in India.]

Summary. The foregoing discussion clarified the following points: (1) The United Press is opposed to retaliation against Reuters; (2) The United Press is opposed to any action designed to compel Reuters to share its present facilities in India with the United Press; (3) The Government of India maintains, and the United Press appears to accept, that even with an enlargement of telegraph facilities generally in India, military needs will preclude during the war the exclusive use of any of those facilities by the United Press; (4) Unless military demands on the Indian telegraph system decrease or the Government of India can be persuaded that its calculations regarding military needs have been incorrect, the only possible solution during the war appears to be one permitting the use of radio facilities by the United Press.

23. Vice President of the United Press.
24. Far Eastern representative of the United Press.
25. Francis C. DeWolf, Chief of the Telecommunications Division.
26. George V. Allen. Chief of the Division of Middle Eastern Affairs.