Office of the Historian

500.CC/2–2845: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State

London, February 28, 1945—6 p.m.
[Received February 28—2:15 p.m.]

2061. For Assistant Secretary Dunn. Foreign Office has just informed us that French Cabinet has approved the following proposal: (a) The substitution in paragraph 2 of the text of the invitation89 of the words “consider as affording a basis for such a charter” by the [Page 101] words “take as a basis for discussion” together with (b) the issuance of a separate declaration by the French Government stating that it associates itself with the invitations but reserves the right to propose amendments to the text of the Dumbarton Oaks proposals.

We have also been informed by the Foreign Office that according to the British Embassy in Washington this French proposal is acceptable to the Department.

Foreign Office is telegraphing proposal to the British Embassy at Moscow with instructions to inform the Soviet Government that it: is acceptable to the British and American Governments and to urge prompt Soviet acceptance.

It is understood by United States [Embassy] and the Foreign Office “that Department will approach the Chinese Government on similar lines.90

Repeated to Moscow, Paris and Chungking.

Winant
  1. See telegram 1409, February 23, midnight, to London, p. 89; see also telegram 931, February 28, 11 a.m., from Paris, p. 99.↩
  2. Telegram 338, February 28, 5 p.m., to Chungking, not printed. The Chargé in China (Atcheson) reported in telegram 332, March 1, midnight (500.CC/3–145), that the Chinese Government was agreeable to proposed change in text of invitations and proposed French declaration as described in the Department’s telegram 338 of February 28.↩