800.6363/8–844
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Petroleum Adviser (Rayner)
I called on Mr. Richard Law32 this morning in connection with a suggestion that the agreed minutes covering the British exchange position be released to the press at the same time the terms of the oil agreement are made public. I called to his attention that it was the feeling of our Delegation that to do so would be inadvisable as it would exaggerate that factor out of all proportion to the broad principles and purposes of the agreement and by implication make it an addendum to the agreement itself. It was our intention to file with the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate and the Maloney Committee a full set of the minutes of the Plenary Sessions together with the agreement itself. Accordingly, they would be advised concerning all matters discussed between the Delegations and there would be no question, therefore, of our not disclosing any points concerning which discussion took place. Mr. Law said that he was satisfied with this explanation and would withdraw his suggestion.
I called to his attention our agreement that if they found it necessary to file with the Parliament the minutes covering the subject of the British exchange position and such minutes became public, then we would be free to issue whatever press release we felt was necessary. He said that they might be forced to make these minutes public before the Parliament convened the end of September. If either course were taken, he agreed that they would give us prior notice of their intention so that we could give the matter whatever publicity we considered desirable.
For your information, I called Ralph Davies in regard to the above matter and he said that both he and Secretary Ickes felt very strongly that there should be no publicity at this time of the agreed minutes and that we should follow the course of action which I have outlined [Page 123] above. I also tried to reach Mr. McDermott33 to get his opinion from the publicity angle. I was unable to reach him.