Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, General: Political and Economic Matters, Volume II

840.70/3–3045: Telegram

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

Washington, March 30, 1945—1 p.m.

2454. For EITO Delegation. British Embassy has proposed revival of interim arrangement for European inland transport advanced last January,³⁴ with following modifications:

1. Draft Agreement should be put in final form by U.S., U.K., French, Netherlands, Belgian and Luxembourg Delegations and an understanding should be reached to apply it, without prejudice to subsequent amendments if and when other governments participate, on informal and experimental basis in areas where they have responsibility.

2. Temporary Executive Board would be set up composed of representatives of U.S., U.K., France and Belgium, and Hondelink would be appointed Chief Officer, but not a member of the Board.

3. U.S., U.K. and French Ambassadors in Moscow would then inform Soviet Government they could not agree to representation by the Lublin Poles at the EITO Conference and that, if Soviet Government was unwilling to eliminate all Polish representation pending settlement of the Polish Government question, the three governments would be obliged to put into effect the interim arrangement as above indicated. Soviet Government would be invited to participate in whatever way they considered appropriate, but the setting up of the interim organization would not be in any way delayed by their failure to do so.

4. Interim arrangement would be considered as extending to the SACMED area but, in view of possible complications with Soviets arising from Yugoslav participation, none of the national governments in that area would be invited to participate. Insofar as possible the Agreement would be made operative in the area by means of EITO representation at Allied Force Headquarters and closest possible working arrangements with UNEBA.

Department has expressed its approval³⁵ of this proposal and you are therefore authorized to take all steps appropriate to bring it into effect as soon as possible.

Repeated to Paris and Moscow.³⁶

Stettinius

34. See telegram 427, February 3, 1 p.m., to Paris, p. 1395.
35. Letter from Mr. Walter Radius of the Office of Transportation and Communications to the Second Secretary of the British Embassy (Maclean), March 30, 1945, not printed.
36. As telegrams 1246 and 740, respectively.