Office of the Historian

840.6362/1–345: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Caffery)5

Washington, January 3, 1945—5 p.m.

28. Prior to November 24, United States side Combined Coal Committee, Washington, following up earlier suggestions, raised again the desirability of going forward with the establishment of an organization to deal with continental coal problems during the transitional period. December second, British Embassy, Washington, proposed6 European Coal Organization composed in the first instance of U.S., U.K., U.S.S.R. and European Allies with provision for a linkup with Allied Control Commissions, Combined Boards, UNRRA,7 EITO,8 [Page 1413] UMA,9 representatives of employees and employers in industry and consuming interests, including the interests of neutrals. An interim ECO10 was proposed, subject of course to military necessities. November 25, Ronald,11 in London, asked Hawkins12 what we thought about the time when the French should be asked to join the talks.13 December 7, Department replied tentatively that it was not at that time appropriate to include the French and exclude other European Allies.14 December 20, British Embassy told Department British expected to deliver copy of coal memorandum of December second to French in Paris and would be glad to know our reaction, On further consideration we agree that French should be approached now.

Embassy London has proposed, however, that whole procedure should be changed for both EEC15 and ECO and that the U.S., U.K., U.S.S.R. and French should be asked to a meeting in late January to consider what questions in economic affairs of Europe, and coal in particular, in transition period are not adequately cared for by present machinery, and what new machinery is desirable. Agenda suggestions could be discussed informally in advance and agreed on at meeting. Each country would be requested to send an observer if not prepared to participate fully. This would avoid obvious difficulties shown so clearly in EITO history, until the representatives of four nations had at least met.

We have therefore presented a memorandum along these lines to the British and Soviet Embassies here, and will present a similar one to the French16 as soon as you notify us of the delivery of the British coal memorandum to the French in Paris.17 You are authorized to say to the French at that time that we agree heartily with their joining the EEC and the ECO, although we wish to discuss further some of the details of the British proposals, and that they will hear from us in the near future.

Text of memorandum to be delivered to French here follows in next succeeding telegram as number 29.18

Stettinius
  1. Repeated to Moscow as telegram 15; to London as telegram 61.↩
  2. Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. ii, p. 631.↩
  3. United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.↩
  4. European Inland Transport Organization; for documentation, see pp. 1389 ff.↩
  5. United Maritime Authority.↩
  6. European Coal Organization.↩
  7. Nigel Bruce Ronald, British Acting Assistant Under-Secretary of State.↩
  8. Harry C. Hawkins, Counselor for Economic Affairs at the American Embassy, London.↩
  9. See telegram 10405, November 25, 1944, from London, Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. ii, p. 631.↩
  10. See telegram 10251, December 7, 1944, 10 p.m., to London, ibid., p. 635.↩
  11. European Economic Committee.↩
  12. January 12, 1945, not printed.↩
  13. Delivered to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on January 7, 1945.↩
  14. Not printed.↩