800.6363/5–946

The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ( Bevin ) to the Secretary of State

Memorandum for Mr. Byrnes 7

Anglo-United States Oil Agreement

His Majesty’s Government are anxious to see the Anglo-United States oil agreement ratified as early as possible. It seems to them that the international oil interests of the United States and United Kingdom are substantially similar and that we both have every advantage in bringing into existence permanent machinery for close consultation and day-to-day exchanges of views. The existence of a close understanding between us is essential.

Though His Majesty’s Government do not think there is any advantage at present in approaching the Soviet Government they look forward to seeing the oil agreement widen eventually so as to include them.

  1. Sent to the Secretary of State at Paris by the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Bevin), the Foreign Ministers being there at that time for a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers. Apparently there was no discussion between the two on this matter at Paris, nor was any acknowledgment made there of the British memorandum. (Memorandum, the Director of the Office of European Affairs (Matthews) to the Under Secretary of State (Acheson), the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Clayton), and the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson), May 20, 1946, 800.6363/5–946).