611.4131/487
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Trade Agreements (Hawkins)
Mr. Chalkley and Mr. Stirling called with reference to the trade agreement and left the attached statement:
Mr. Chalkley said that he had been asked to make clear the United Kingdom Government’s position in regard to today’s announcements.88 It was as follows:—
We are glad to see that the United States Government have accepted our composite offer as a basis of negotiation. We note that acceptance is on the assumption that the United Kingdom Government will obtain the concurrence of the Empire Governments to items in that offer affecting them but, as stated in our memorandum of 5th November we cannot commit the other British Commonwealth Governments concerned. We shall of course do our best to secure their concurrence. At the same time the announcement made by the United Kingdom [Page 88] Government today must not, for the reasons given above, be regarded as implying responsibility for decisions which it is for other British Commonwealth Governments to take. They have, however, been informed of our proposals of 5th November and we know that the other Commonwealth Governments are anxious that these negotiations should succeed. Their views will be obtained as soon as possible.
- Evidently refers to the announcement of November 18, regarding the contemplated United States-United Kingdom negotiations. For text of the preliminary announcement of contemplated United States-Canadian negotiations, November 19, see Department of State, Press Releases, November 20, 1937, p. 388.↩