890.00/7–2249: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 22—9:30 a. m.]
2881. I called on Bevin yesterday evening and passed on to him substance Deptel 2516, July 20, 7 p. m.; Bevin noncommittal. He referred to conference on Middle East problems now under way in London and confessed preoccupation therewith. He said he hoped to initiate steps to make the Near and Middle East secure before becoming involved too deeply in the Far East. He had in mind a thorough review of the Chinese scene during his visit to Washington in September and hoped it would be possible to have Ambassadors Stuart and Stevenson present at the time. He suggested establishment of joint US–UK board which would perform much the same function for entire area from Turkey to southeast Asia as Middle East study had performed for 1947.
I agreed to forward suggestion to Department but pointed out China problems were matter of urgency and required early consideration. Bevin concurred and said he would try to give Dening benefit his views before his departure tomorrow.
With regard to Deptel 2517, July 20, 7 p. m.,3 I told Bevin our very first-blush reaction was that he felt that at this juncture we could hardly go along with any such program for relief of Shanghai. This, however, was tentative.
- Not printed.↩