262.84A41/4–2252: Telegram
No. 424
The Secretary of
State to the Office of the United
States High Commissioner for Germany, at
Bonn
2671. For McCloy. Reps of Jewish organizations which have been associated with Israel at Hague in negots with FedGov have asked Pres to issue a public statement calling upon FedGov to expedite successful conclusion Hague talks. We have felt it wld not be appropriate for US to intervene publicly in negots at this time. On other hand, we have advised Reps referred to that we wld ask you to reaffirm to Chancellor sympathetic concern which US feels for objectives of Hague talks and our strong hopes talks will lead to successful conclusion. We recognize that FedGov properly must relate any offer it can make to Israel Govt to other responsibilities which it has and to its overall capacity to discharge its obligations. On other hand, it wld appear to us that negots at Hague shld carry forward rapidly as possible. We understand Ger negotiators have proposed that Hague talk be deferred until month after Lon Debt Conference reconvenes. Although not fully familiar with status of Hague talks we wld be gratified if FedGov finds it possible reconvene Hague talks at early date, if practicable at approximately same time as Lon talks, so as to avoid giving public impression Lon mtg in any way holds precedence over Hague talks. We sug you propose this suggestion in tentative form on our part since we [Page 920] are not of course in position to know what preparations FedGov needs make in order carry discussions forward profitably after they have opened.
FYI we recognize that Ger Govt is in predicament in finding resources adequately to satis its obligations at Hague and at Lon. We are anxious, however, that this dilemma be resolved by Gers, at least in first instance. We wish to avoid pre-war commercial creditors and in particular US Del at Lon being maneuvered in position by Ger Gov which might lead to charges that the Lon Conference is interfering with solution which is satis to Gers and Israel side of negots.