611.4131/1855a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy)
675. Personal for the Ambassador. After careful consideration, I have decided, with the President’s approval, to accept the pending [Page 70] British offers (slightly modified in several respects) and to proceed forthwith to the signature of a trade agreement. We should, of course, like to have some further concessions from the British, but I have reached the conclusion that the present offers represent the ultimate limit to which the British are prepared to go without reopening our proposed concessions to the United Kingdom and without protracted delay. In reaching this decision, I have been influenced by your excellent telegraphic reports, particularly your comments about opposition to the agreement within the British Cabinet. Your reports and assistance have been of great value and I am deeply grateful to you.
The British Ambassador will be told of our decision tomorrow. In the meantime, our delegation is endeavoring to clear up with the British delegation by tonight outstanding differences in regard to details and technical questions. The mechanical task of preparing the agreement for signature is an enormous one, but we shall tell the British delegation that we hope that it will be possible for the agreement to be signed November 11 and to be made public November 14. Naturally all of this must be kept absolutely confidential.