NEA Files: Lot 55–D36
Memorandum Prepared in the Department of State
Closing Remarks by the Acting Secretary of State
Mr. Ambassador: In the meeting of this group which took place on October 16 it was agreed, I believe, that the primary objective of our talks was to enable each of our two governments in the interests of world peace to have a better understanding of what the policies of the other governments are with respect to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and to coordinate, wherever possible, these policies with the purpose of promoting the security of those areas and the welfare of the peoples inhabiting them.
It was also agreed that these talks would be of an informal nature, that the participants were to feel free to exchange views without in any way committing their Governments, that, although no minutes were to be kept of the various discussions, decisions or understandings arrived at during the course of discussions would be reduced to writing in order to obviate so far as possible misunderstandings with regard to their nature.
It was also our idea, I believe, that any helpful exchange of views regarding our respective policies must be in the framework of a common concept of the strategic situation of the areas under discussion and our hope that, with the advice of the military members of the [Page 621] respective groups each of our Governments, we would attain clearer ideas regarding the strategic situation before our discussions came to a close.
It was also our understanding that our discussions, both of a strategic and political nature, would be based on a common determination to discourage aggression and to maintain the security of the areas under discussion, the preservation of which is vital to the maintenance of world peace. I expressed the view, in which I believe you concurred, that our respective Governments would be facilitated in their efforts to aid in raising the economic and cultural levels of the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East if their approach to the problem would be coordinated.
As a result of the conversations which have taken place since our last meeting a number of documents have been prepared for the consideration of our respective Governments. These documents, I believe, represent the views of the British and American groups as to what the policies and objectives of their respective Governments are or should be. The documents prepared by each group are not in the nature of agreement, formal or informal. If, however, the views expressed in them are accepted by our respective Governments, it would mean that our Governments would be following in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East parallel policies based on our main objective of maintaining world peace in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations in a spirit of cooperation and mutual trust and good will. I cannot of course undertake at this point to state that the views expressed by the American group in these various documents are the established policies of the American Government. I can say that these views, which have been formulated only after protracted discussion and study by representatives of the Department of State and of our armed services and after consultation with the British representatives, deserve, in my opinion, most careful consideration and that I shall transmit them with that recommendation to Mr. Marshall so that he will be in a position to discuss them with Mr. Bevin in London.
During the course of our previous conversation I made it clear to you that my Government considers that it is important to both our countries and to the cause of world peace that the British remain in the Middle East and that we understand that if they are to remain there they must have facilities in that area which would make their position strategically tenable.
During our first conversation you stressed the importance of Cyrenaica as a strategic area. It was suggested that Cyrenaica might be taken up as a first item for discussion with the view to working out [Page 622] a common approach. I note it is the view of our respective groups that it would be in our common interest and in the interest of world peace that international arrangements should be effected which would permit the British to have the necessary strategic facilities in Cyrenaica. I concur in these views and have reason to believe that they are the views of my Government.
I might at this point refer briefly to the various documents emanating from the conversations which have taken place:
- (1)
- The recommendations of the American group with respect to what the basic policies of the United States should be with regard to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
- It is my intention to submit this document to Mr. Marshall with the recommendation that it be submitted to the National Security Council. This document will probably be the subject of discussion between Mr. Marshall and Mr. Bevin in London.
- (2)
- The recommendations of the British group with regard to what the basic policies of the British Government should be with regard to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
- It is my understanding that this document is to be submitted to Mr. Bevin for study and consideration and that it will probably be the subject of discussion between Mr. Marshall and Mr. Bevin in London.
- (3)
- A general statement prepared by the American group to which are attached some twenty-five memoranda relating to countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and to general topics relating to that area which have been considered during the course of our conversations. These documents contain suggestions of both the British and American groups as well as expressions of individual or common opinions as to how our respective basic policies with regard to the Middle East might best be implemented in individual countries or in the treating of problems pertaining to several countries.
- It is my intention to recommend that this document with attached memoranda be transmitted to the National Security Council in order that that Council might obtain an idea of the manner in which we are planning to implement our basic policies with regard to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
- (4)
- A general statement prepared by the British group1 to which are attached the same memoranda as those attached to the American general statement relating to countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and to general topics relating to that area which have been considered during the course of our conversations.
- It is my understanding that this statement with attached memoranda will be studied by the appropriate British officials in London [Page 623] and will probably be the subject of discussion between Mr. Marshall and Mr. Bevin in London.
- (5)
- A summary memorandum of informal conversations relating to social and economic affairs in the Middle East prepared jointly by representatives of the Department of State and of the British Embassy and Foreign Office. This memorandum, as I understand it, sets forth the views of these representatives as to the manner in which the United States and Great Britain might most effectively cooperate in approaching social and economic problems in the Middle East. The conversations which resulted in the preparation of this memorandum revealed, I believe, that in general we are pursuing parallel social and economic policies in the Middle East and that it would be in our own interest and in those of the peoples of the Middle East and those of world prosperity and peace for the United States and Great Britain to continue to cooperate closely in this respect. It is my understanding that this memorandum has already been approved in principle by the interested economic and geographic offices of the Department of State and, although possibly subject to certain amendments of detail, can be considered to reflect the present social and economic policies of the Department in the Middle East. It is possible that Mr. Bevin and Mr. Marshall may care to discuss various aspects of this memorandum when Mr. Marshall is in London. If the State Department or the Foreign Office should desire to make certain amendments or changes in this memorandum it is understood, I believe, that notification to this effect will be made through diplomatic channels.