841.014/5–946: Telegram

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

[Extract]
secret

4939. We have been given by Cumming Bruce summary of proceedings of last few days of Dominions PriMin Conference. He again stressed that press had exaggerated nature of conference and stated no formal or detailed agreements were reached.

With regard to talks on Pacific bases which occupied considerable time over weekend and on last two days, it was again agreed that no substantial concession could be made at this time to US requests. Reports were received from Bevin re his talks with the Secretary and all were agreed that public opinion both in UK and in Dominions would not permit any gesture to be made while loan was still being considered. It was again emphasized by Australia and New Zealand that question of bases should not be treated in isolation but only in connection with general plans for Pacific defenses. UK is stated to have agreed with Dominions on this point. All present at conference further agreed there could be no question of US being granted rights to bases in the British Commonwealth without reciprocal rights being given members of Commonwealth by US.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Harriman