NEA Files: Lot 55–D36
The First Secretary of Embassy in the United Kingdom (Jones) to the Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Henderson)
Michael No. 5a
Dear Lot: The only development since my letter of December 8 has been the fact that Michael raised with me the question of the exact meaning of the final sentence of the memorandum of conversation on December 4 quoted in Michael No. 5. Sir Orme Sargent,1 he said, had asked whether this in any way affected the final paragraph of the “American Paper” which deals with letting the USSR know that the Middle East is an area important to the US.
After discussing the matter with Jack Hickerson2 and with his approval I sent Michael for the records the following personal note:
“Dear Michael: I have looked into the question you raised with regard to the final paragraph of the memorandum recording the December 4 conversation on Middle Eastern problems.
I am assured that when Mr. Marshall agreed that the Soviets should not be informed he was referring only to the fact that the Washington talks had taken place; there was and is no implication in his words contrary to the substance of the Washington talks.
Most sincerely,
Lewis Jones.”
Michael said that he thought this covered Sir Orme’s inquiry and that he would watch with interest what came from Washington in the way of implementation of the American idea of letting the USSR know the importance of the Middle East to the US.
With best wishes,