560.AL/4–2946: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman)
us urgent
3636. For Hawkins from Wilcox and Brown. Urtel 4581 Apr 29. 1. Appreciate need for consultation with Ministers and as you stated, must assume loan passage.
2. Re tentative British comments our plan, we agree decision membership drafting subcommittee could well be deferred until near end of Preparatory Committee meeting; if plan goes through, it should [Page 1322] be relatively easy to arrange for postponement formal conference until 1947 in view of additional preparatory time needed; we assume Preparatory Committee already has sufficient authority to convene without further reference to Council; our representatives at Preparatory Committee meeting would generally be not same as those attending ECOSOC; we will consider change from New York to Geneva or other site if British and others so desire.
3. Re your paragraph 6 we would of course urge a general exchange of request lists.
4. Re your paragraph 7 your assumption is correct, but we need definitive British reaction soon.
5. Urtel 4423 Apr 24, paragraph 4, we would expect to take initiative, assuming British and other support. Re preparation of request lists by US, we are continuing to push committee work as rapidly as possible. Cannot yet estimate date of completion UK list.
6. Brown has visited Ottawa to explain decision to Canadians and sound out their reaction to new plan. Mixed reaction with some disappointment at postponement and some doubt as to desirability discussion of Proposals in advance of tariff talks.68 More definite Canadian opinion expected next week. Will call you. [Wilcox and Brown.]
- A memorandum by Mr. Brown of his discussion with Canadian Government officials at Ottawa on April 29, 1946 may be found in the Department’s central indexed files (File No. 560.AL/4–2946).↩