840.50/4527⅖: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16—5:50 p.m.]
4093. The Department may be interested to know that Embassy has learned from reliable sources that British Embassy, Washington, has informed Leith-Ross by way of comment on his recent personal message to Grady that Department does not seem disposed toward a favorable response. Our attitude is described as strongly influenced by [Page 141] Habana Conference and subsequent ad hoc commitments in Latin America. Leith-Ross is accordingly described as taking a somewhat pessimistic line about possibility of United States collaboration on surpluses and British program is said to be marking time. Embassy is informed, however, that Leith-Ross would welcome an opening to explore informally in Washington the possibilities of collaboration and would bring Cairns with him.
It is also understood that British Surplus Committee is interesting itself in next meeting of Sugar Council (Embassy’s 4063, December 1393) the proposed date for which is January 6. Secretary of the Council states informally that British are concerned about new expanding tendency of sugar production in certain Dominions and colonies.
- Telegram not printed.↩