740.00119 EW/3–448: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom
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749. For Douglas from Lovett. Difficulty your negotiations with British and French on basis list of categories given you is fully appreciated here.1 However this represents most restricted list we have been able obtain in lengthy negotiations with Cabinet Committee, members of which strongly favor broader list of categories. To obtain further modification of list would require reopening discussion in Cabinet following President’s return Washington.
Have you given full consideration to fact that this list is highly tentative and is intended solely for purpose of defining scope of examination? Suspension of dismantling of plants these categories would be temporary and for purpose of providing time for further study. As stated our telecon message today we do not expect that examination these plants will result in material reduction of plants listed for reparations. In any event understood that most of plants which would be affected are not being dismantled at present due to deliberate decision by British zonal authorities defer dismantling plants capable producing critical items. Thus agreement to temporary suspension would not in many cases result in any change or delay.
Regarding substitution principle concerning which you request latitude for negotiation, we will support any arrangement to which British and French will agree and which in your opinion is desirable. [Lovett.]
- Teletype conferences were apparently held between the Department of State and the Embassy in London on March 3 and March 4 on the subject of reparations. At one or both of these conferences, the Embassy was given a list of those categories of plants in Germany subject to reparations to be reviewed by a special investigating committee.↩