840.70/11–2744: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
Washington, November 30,
1944—8 p.m.
10041. For EITO Delegation, reEmbs 10464, November 27.
- I.
- In discussing interim body with Hurcomb and Weston, Radius and Plakias restated the Department’s position given in paragraphs VI and VII Department’s 9731, November 18, namely that at present necessity for interim organization would depend on prospects of prompt agreement on EITO and whether establishment of EITO would be long delayed. In turn, any interim body should be acceptable to military and continentals. Hurcomb did not appear convinced as to need for establishment of formal interim body. He thought Clay and Barrington-Ward might be attached to SHAEF and could expand their activities to make recommendations to supply authorities in connection with civil requirements for continentals. Their scope could be broad and they could be supplied with necessary staff to carry out their functions, possibly including some TACIT personnel.
- II.
- In the absence of direct comments to questions raised in paragraphs VI and VII Department’s 9731, Department assumes that delegation’s recommendation is based on satisfactory answers to those questions. Department assumes delegation feels that (1) interim body is necessary, (2) it can be quickly established and begin operations and will in no way delay establishment of EITO, (3) proposed procedure would avoid possibility that Soviets would delay establishment of interim body as they did Interim Commission and that Soviet participation would not delay establishment of EITO, and (4) stop-gap organization would have the approval of French and other continentals. Please indicate your reasons.
- III.
- Delegation’s provisos to British proposal appear to conform stop-gap organization to original Interim Commission but under a different name and with inclusion of France. It is not clear how this proposal would avoid objections previously raised by British and others, as reported in Embassy’s 10071, November 17; 9978, November 15; 9879, November 12; 9799, November 10.
- IV.
- Department will be prepared to examine a new draft directive in light of your comments on points raised above.
Stettinius