Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The Near East and Africa, Volume VIII

800.24/9–1845

The British Embassy to the Department of State

Memorandum

As the State Department is aware, Colonel Hoskins,² during a recent visit to London, strongly urged that the date for the liquidation of the Middle East Supply Centre, set for the 1st of January, 1946, should be advanced to the 1st of November 1945.³

2. In view of the termination of world hostilities, His Majesty’s Government are able to agree to the earlier date and they propose that a formal joint announcement should now be made by the United States Government and His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom concerning this decision. His Majesty’s Government would be glad to learn whether the United States Government agrees to this proposal. If so, His Majesty’s Government will be glad to propose a draft of an announcement. Meanwhile, they are anxious that the proposed change of date should be kept confidential.

Washington , September 6, 1945.

2. Lit. Col. Harold B. Hoskins, Adviser on Economic Affairs, with rank of Counselor, at Legation in Egypt; assigned concurrently to Missions in Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia.

3. In telegram 1530, August 3, 1945, 9 p.m., the Minister in Egypt reported that United States spokesmen at the Middle East Supply Center (MESC), in lengthy discussions with their British counterparts, had pressed for dissolution of the MESC at the earliest possible date “in view of declared United States policy of eliminating wartime controls.” Their proposal that October 1, 1945, be set as the date of dissolution had been regarded as too early by the British, “in part because of administrative difficulties in organizing British supply controls after the termination of MESC and in part because of necessity for informing Parliament prior to publication of decision.” The British had countered with a proposal to liquidate the MESC on December 31, 1945, “with purely British Supply Mission continuing MESC functions on the British side for all commodities requiring control particularly food.” (800.24/8–345)

   In its reply, in telegram 1591, August 20, 1945. 3 p.m., the Department noted that the “End of Japanese war in our opinion warrants earliest possible transition to new framework expected to continue well into post-war period” and instructed Cairo to “continue to press for agreement on earliest feasible date for termination in your conversations with British”. The Department also underscored its belief “that an agreed US–UK position on termination date is essential and that withdrawal of U.S. from MESC must coincide with formal dissolution of that agency.” (103.9169/8–2045)