243. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom1
8428. Department has informed British Embassy here of readiness conduct final phase talks re measures to insure access ME petroleum supplies. Talks agreed upon at Bermuda and preliminary phase conducted here. Deputy Under Secretary Henderson designated US representative; Ambassador Trevelyan to represent British. UK has agreed dates June 11–14.
Henderson will arrive London June 11 from Karachi after four-day stopover Geneva. Elbert G. Mathews, Member Policy Planning Staff, and Fraser Wilkins, Director NE, will join Henderson in Geneva and proceed London with him. Party will inform you from Geneva of exact ETA. Please arrange suitable hotel accommodations.
Department desires following Embassy officers also be prepared assist discussions: Evan Wilson, Grant McClanahan and James Swihart.
[Page 544]Discussions and Henderson’s movements being conducted under secret classification. In event any leaks you should merely indicate opportunity Henderson’s return from Karachi taken for exchange views on matters common interest.
In event your discussions with Foreign Office these talks should elicit any information re UK approach or objectives these talks, inform both Henderson Karachi and Department. We presuming basis will be identical paper drafted in preliminary Washington discussions.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 880.2553/6–157. Secret.↩
- Reference is to the May 10 paper cited in Document 240.↩