240. Editorial Note
Between April 15 and May 10, representatives of the British Embassy and the Department of State met in Washington to discuss and refine the memorandum, “U.S. Views on Middle East Problems Bearing Upon the Supply of Oil to the Free World,” prepared by an interdepartmental working group and submitted to British representatives on April 15. As a result of these discussions, an agreed U.S.–U.K. paper, “Review of Middle East Problems Bearing Upon the Supply of Oil to the Free World,” dated May 10, was prepared. On May 14, Rountree forwarded a copy of this paper to Secretary Dulles under cover of a memorandum indicating that the United States was ready to undertake the final stage of the consultation process, which would consist of higher level discussions between British and United States officials in London. Dulles approved Rountree’s recommendations that planning proceed for this meeting.
The U.S. memorandum is attached to Document 219. Documentation concerning U.S.-U.K. discussions of the memorandum is in Department of State, Central File 880.2553. The agreed paper of May 10 is printed in volume X, page 682.