740.0011 EW/7–745

No. 131
Memorandum by the Acting Secretary of State

Memorandum of Conversation

Subject: British desire for the visit to London of one or more of our representatives at the Big Three Meeting

Participants: British Minister, Mr. John Balfour;
Acting Secretary, Mr. Grew

In the course of his conversation with me this morning Mr. Balfour of the British Embassy said his Government hoped very much that one or more of our group which would attend the forthcoming meeting of heads of government in Berlin might pass through London so that there might be a preliminary discussion of various matters which would come up at the main meeting. He realized that we would not wish to give any impression to the Russians that we were ganging [Page 151] up on them but he thought that if one or more of our lower level experts could come to London in advance it would be very helpful.

I replied that I thought the feeling in our group was opposed to such preliminary talks but that I would look into the matter immediately.

J[oseph] C. G[rew]