800.24/9–1845

The Department of State to the British Embassy

Memorandum

Reference is made to the memorandum of September 6, 1945, from the British Embassy expressing the willingness of His Majesty’s Government, pursuant to the request of Colonel Hoskins during his recent visit to London, to accept the date of November 1, 1945, for the liquidation of the Middle East Supply Center and inquiring if the United States Government agrees to a formal joint announcement by the two Governments of this action.

The United States Government agrees to the proposal for a formal joint announcement to that effect, keeping the proposed change confidential prior to such announcement.

It is clear that the elimination of the Middle East Supply Center will require the revision of certain existing Middle East import procedures. With respect to those heavy-tonnage commodities (cereals, coal, sugar, fertilizers and so forth) whose importation into the Middle East has been largely through centralized channels, it is assumed by this Government that normal commercial channels will be reopened at the earliest practicable moment. In the event that the British Government considers it necessary to continue centralized importation of these commodities into British Middle East territories for a short period of transition, it should be understood that this Government would not consider it practicable to shape United States export controls toward the end of assisting in the implementation of such centralized procurement, since it is the intention of this Government to permit the export of all commodities within the limits of available supply.

The United States Government recognizes that the Middle East Supply Center has been an indispensable aid in the common war effort and a working example of practical international economic cooperation, and appreciates the opportunity of participating with the British Government in this cooperative effort. This Government wishes to give assurance of its desire for continued cooperation between the two Governments with respect not only to the transition questions growing out of the termination of the Middle East Supply Center but also to-the longer-range economic problems facing the Middle East.

[Page 87]

[A joint statement by the Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom announcing the dissolution of the Middle East Supply Center on November 1, 1945, was released to the press in Washington and London on September 26. On the same day, the Department of State and the Foreign Economic Administration released a statement entitled “Review of the Work of the Middle East Supply Center”. Both statements are printed in the Department of State Bulletin, September 30, 1945, page 493. For views of the Department, released on October 30, on the nature of United States supply arrangements for the Middle East to be put into effect with the dissolution of the Middle East Supply Center, see ibid., November 4, 1945, page 727.]