740.00112 European War 1939/10864
The British Ambassador ( Halifax ) to the Secretary of State
Ref: 1101/23/44
Sir: With reference to my note No. 224 of April 18th, 1944, and to previous correspondence about the proposals of His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom for dealing with vessels formerly belonging to one of the United Nations or to nationals thereof and recaptured from the enemy by United Nations forces, I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty’s Government now desire to enter into formal agreement with the Allied Governments concerned on the basis of the memorandum dated October 22nd, 1943 attached to the Aide-Mémoire, dated November 15th, 1943, which was handed to an official of the Department by a member of this Embassy on November 16th. A draft of a letter which it is proposed to address to the representatives of the Allied Governments in the United Kingdom and of the memorandum in its final form are transmitted herewith.84
2. His Majesty’s Government consider it important to have an agreement on this subject with the United States Government as well as with the other maritime Allies, and discussion with the United States Mission for Economic Affairs in London has confirmed their view. I am therefore instructed to enquire whether the United States Government are prepared to enter into an exchange of notes with His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom on the lines of the enclosed drafts. I am to add that His Majesty’s Government regard the matter as one of urgency and attach importance to the conclusion of an agreement at the earliest possible date.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩