560.AL/7–1846: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
secret
London, July 18,
1946—6 p.m.
[Received 9:24 p.m.]
[Received 9:24 p.m.]
6799. For Brown from Hawkins. (1) Discussed urtel 5419, July 16, with BOT. Their initial reaction unfavorable but agreed to take under consideration and give us definitive reaction after consulting Ministers.
- (2)
- Initial view on publication of charter was same as heretofore. They agreed to reconsider but felt they could not intelligently take a position without seeing the text of the covering memorandum explaining the nature of draft and the reason for distributing it. Presumably [Page 1332] same explanation would be sent to governments and made public. Please cable text.
- (3)
- British think your schedule for transmitting request lists means delay in holding negotiating meeting until say April 1. They would like as soon as possible to have the date fixed for that meeting so that preparatory work can be scheduled and staff allocations can be made.
- (4)
- British dubious about the inclusion of Chile, Lebanon and Norway in trade barrier negotiations on same basis as others. They said this raised in acute form question of inviting Argentina to which we replied that Norway, Chile and Lebanon were added by ECOSOC; that while this complicates negotiations it is still more confusing to continue to differentiate these countries; and that since they were added by ECOSOC latter has main responsibility for limiting participants to 18. In view of this we said it seemed unnecessary for either US or UK to complicate matter still further by suggesting any additional country. They recognize complications and will take under consideration.
- (5)
- We think some progress made toward getting British acquiescence and final position may be favorable. [Hawkins.]
Harriman