865.014/7–2247: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Douglas ) to the Secretary of State
3992. Itcol 25. See Colit 12.1 Stafford informs us that original intention of Foreign Office, when UK accepted offer of SYG for ECOSOC field survey in Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Eritrea, was that General Cumming should be consulted as to when such survey could appropriately be made. Stafford states that, by some unfortunate wording in acceptance, UK appeared to be ready for ECOSOC Commission’s survey at any time.
Foreign Office has referred the matter to Stafford, who has made following suggestion, which he is confident Foreign Office will follow:
Postponement of ECOSOC field survey altogether until after four power commission has completed field work in former Italian Colonies, in order to:
- 1.
- Avoid possibility of inconvenience and confusion arising from two parties being in field at or about same time and
- 2.
- Prevent attempts to use field survey as medium for political activity or intrigue (once Quadripartite Commission’s visit is made, this danger will no longer exist).
Moreover, Stafford states that UK delegation at UN will be asked to arrange everything with SYG and Cumming will be out of picture for time being.2
We agree entirely with Department that ECOSOC Commission should not visit territories until after Quadripartite Commission’s field work is completed.
Sent Department 3992, repeated Addis Ababa unnumbered.
- Supra.↩
- On August 22, 1947, the United Kingdom Government requested of the United Nations Secretary General the postponement of the survey of the former Italian colonies until after the visits there by the Commission of Investigation. On September 15, the Secretary General agreed to the postponement.↩