320/1–1051
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by the Deputy Under Secretary of State (Matthews)
| Participants: | Mr. Christopher E. Steel, British Minister |
| Mr. Matthews–G |
Mr. Steel telephoned me at noon today to give me the results of his telephone call to London. He said that London had not in fact received the President’s message to Prime Minister Attlee when the messages were sent (see my Memorandum of Conversation of today’s date). He said London does wish an answer to the proposal from the Commonwealth Prime Ministers irrespective of the message from the President to Prime Minister Attlee. They had not circulated the President’s message among the Commonwealth Prime Ministers as they regarded it as a personal exchange between the President and Mr. Attlee. Mr. Steel said the British had not discussed any next step with the other Prime Ministers, that is, what would happen if we do not accept the proposal. He said he could understand the difficulties for us in the London suggestions.
Mr. Steel thought an answer should be sent as quickly as possible. He said if we turn down the proposal the quicker it is done the better [Page 50] for any decision may well influence the Commonwealth position in the General Assembly Thursday.1