Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, General: Political and Economic Matters, Volume II

840.50/5–2945: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State

London, May 29, 1945.
[Received May 29—9:07 a.m.]

5386. 1. EECE was established at a meeting this afternoon, the following countries notifying the adherence of their Governments: Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, France, Belgium, Turkey, UK, USA. The Danish representative said that he had not yet received instructions but was confident that his Government would join.² The Zecho representative had no instructions but will sit as observer until he receives them.

2. Richard Law,³ who presided, said that EECE would be of the greatest service to Europe. The problems with which it would deal were of extreme gravity and urgency. Physical destruction in Europe was far greater than in the last war. The whole future of Europe and the world depended on the restoration of the European economy. EECE was not intended as an executive or legislative body but as a body for pooling ideas and clarifying minds. It was designed not to supplant or replace but to supplement and coordinate where necessary other organizations. It might undertake two classes of work. First it would deal with broad policy questions that might be referred to it by governments and perhaps by ECO, EITO and other international bodies, and second with problems that no existing organization serves it should be flexible and should not lay down rigid rules beforehand.

3. Hawkins indicated the adherence of the US Government on the basis of the terms of reference in the memorandum May 3⁴ and urged that the organization of the work should proceed rapidly because of the pressing nature of the problems involved. On his recommendation it was decided that a UK chairman and secretary should be appointed temporarily to expedite the initial work in London. Law accepted for UK but stressed the temporary nature of this arrangement.

4. Alphand expounded the points in the memorandum of May 3, and stressed the usefulness of EECE in facilitating the work of the combined boards. He and the British representative particularly emphasized the advisory nature of EECE. The Belgian representative referred to the, need for consultative machinery to deal with such questions as the equitable distribution of exportable foods from Denmark.

5. The first business meeting of EECE was fixed for Wednesday at which provisional arrangements will be discussed.

Sent to Department as 5386; repeated to Paris as 320; Brussels as 167; Athens as 22; Ankara as 42; Oslo 3; Cophenhagen as 1.

Winant

[Questions relating to the adherence of other States, Allied, neutral or ex-enemy, to the newly formed bodies, constantly engaged the attention of the representatives during their deliberations in 1945 and into 1946, and were the occasion for frequent exchanges between the Embassy in London and the Department. For information regarding the accession or presence of other States, see Emergency Economic Committee for Europe, Report by the Secretary General, 1943/46, and European Coal Organisation, European Coal Organisation, 1945 to 1947, Brief Description and History.

Toward the end of 1945 a question arose regarding the informal status of ECO, brought on by the withdrawal of military personnel from the organization, the resultant need for organizing a paid civilian staff, and the financial problems that arose relating thereto. In November the ECO Council, including the American representation, unanimously adopted a proposal for recommendation to their respective Governments that participation in ECO be established under a formal agreement. The Department of State, after several exchanges with the Embassy in London, finally agreed to this arrangement, after securing in the financial article (Article VII) a provision that reserved the position of each member government respect of the requirements of its constitutional procedure. (840.6362/11–1045, 11–2945, 12–745, 12–845, 12–1445, 12–1945, 12–2745)

The agreement was signed at London on January 4, 1946, to be effective from January 1. For text, see Department of State Treaties and Other International Acts Series 1508, or 60 Stat. (pt.2) 1517.]

2. The Danish Government formally notified its adherence at a meeting of the Emergency Economic Committee for Europe on June 4, 1945.
3. British Minister of State in the Churchill War Cabinet which resigned May 23, 1945; Mr. Law served as Minister of Education in the “Caretaker” Government which took office May 25, 1945, and resigned July 26, 1945.
4. Note of May 3, 1945, from Ronald to Winant (not printed), inviting the United States to a meeting in London beginning May 25, 1945, for the purpose of establishing an Emergency Economic Committee for Europe. A reply of May 15 from W. J. Gallman, Counsellor of the London Embassy, to Anthony Eden, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, accepted the invitation on behalf of the United States Government.