800.6363/1724a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
5007. The following is a United Press report of this morning:
“High American oil officials charged the British with using the invasion as an excuse for delaying action on plans for an Anglo-American agreement on postwar petroleum activities. The United States has already named its delegation, headed by Secretary Hull, to participate in the final talks. The British, however, have not yet appointed representatives for this ‘full dress’ parley. Some quarters reported that the British Delegation would arrive here within ten days. American officials, however, have become extremely annoyed over what they termed the British ‘procrastination’. They said the British have ‘used’ the invasion ‘to drag this whole thing out indefinitely’. They gave as a possible explanation the belief that Britain wants to show this country it has no enthusiasm for our participation in Middle Eastern oil affairs.”
We have been concerned lest this type of publicity would occur with resultant adverse atmosphere relative to future petroleum conversations.
We understand the British Embassy here has transmitted the foregoing in full to London, at the same time urging prompt action. Please urge strongly upon the British the advisability of their naming their Delegation to complete the conversations and of fixing the date of its departure without further delay.