560.AL/10–1547
The British Ambassador (Inverchapel) to the Under Secretary of State (Lovett)
Dear Under Secretary: Since I called on. you this morning and you took the opportunity to hand to me an Aide-Mémoire in reply to the Memorandum about the Geneva trade negotiations which I had left with the Secretary of State in New York on September 27, I have received a message from Mr. Bevin to the following effect:
His Majesty’s Government have reconsidered the position, and have decided to accept the United States proposal on the basis of making the proposed concession regarding Colonial Preferences in return for a United States concession regarding the rubber mixing regulations. This would be on the lines already proposed at Geneva, and negotiations should accordingly be resumed there with a view to settling outstanding details by an early date.
I am happy to make this communication to you. In doing so, I am instructed to ask you to take steps to ensure that this communication be kept secret until our delegations have made arrangements for announcing a settlement. His Majesty’s Government are still at the stage of informing the Colonial Governments concerned, and any leakage within the next few days would compromise the position.1
Yours sincerely,
- In response to Lord Inverchapel’s letter, Under Secretary Lovett on October 21, wrote: “I wish to express my satisfaction that this matter has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion.” (560.AL/10–1547).↩