840.6362/3–2747: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State
urgent
1046. Delsec 1354. For Acheson. Personal from Marshall. Reference British request to ECO for allocation of coal from US in third quarter. Department’s 618, March 21 (Secdel 1362).
[Page 497]Department should take position that it is reluctant to allocate coal to British as British availabilities from own production without exports are considerably closer to normal availabilities than the quantities available to continental countries.
Transport difficulties make it unlikely that additional coal may be shipped in third quarter and allocation to British could be made only by reduction in allocation to continent. Allocations of US coal to British under these circumstances, unless wholeheartedly supported by ECO importing countries, would lead to misunderstanding and bitterness.
This reply will leave the door open if Bevin desires to appeal to me. I prefer not to initiate discussion with him.
Repeated to London as 108.