840.50/3–945: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 9—7:42 a.m.]
2407. Judge Rosenman requests the following message be delivered to the President.
“During my absence the members of the Mission have held discussions and accumulated information on various aspects of the supply problems for NW Europe liberated areas. The members of the Mission have worked closely with the Embassy and ME A31 which have made available to them their knowledge and experience. Several discussions have also been held with technical personnel of the British Government with particular reference to the organization procedure and functioning of the British machinery for liberated area’s policy and supply problems. Considerable preliminary information has been secured as to current economic and social conditions in France, Belgium and Holland. Conversations have been held at the technical level with representatives of the Dutch, Belgian and Norwegian Governments and with UNRRA officials.
“The principal topics examined by the members of the Mission here were as follows: Shipping, port facilities and port clearance; inland transport; coal; petroleum; trade with neutrals; and British stockpiles and the effects of VE day on availability of supplies and UK exports to liberated areas. All these topics, except those directly relating to UK will be examined further on the Continent and the information secured here checked against field reports and observations.
[Page 1076]In addition, informal conversations have been held with British and Dutch officials on the extent of destruction, the problems of reconstructions and possible financial assistance which may be required from outside sources. Officials both Governments though willing to furnish available information feel that conversations on these topics are not timely.
“British liberated machinery: The members of the Mission have been very cordially received by their British opposite numbers and have had a good view of the organization in London. They have been impressed both by the high level at which liberated area’s problems receive constant attention and by the use of the secretariat system to achieve integration between the various departments concerned.
“International organizations: Members of the Mission have joined in some of the preliminary discussions concerning the European Economic Committee.
“While I am here I will be talking with Ambassador Winant; the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary (with Ambassador Winant); Lord Keynes;32 Richard Law, Minister of State; Oliver Lyttelton, Minister of Production; Lord Leathers, Minister of War Transport; Sir James Grigg, Secretary of State for War; Colonel Llewellin, Minister of Food; Sir John Anderson, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Thomas Brand, Chairman of SLAO [SLAC];33 Lt. General John Chalaz,34 Commander General, Headquarters Communications zone, ETO; Sir N. Frederick Leith-Ross and Hugh Jackson of UNRRA; the Prime Ministers and other officials of Holland and Norway and our Ambassadors Hornbeck and Osborne.”