Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, European Advisory Commission, Austria, Germany, Volume III

740.00119 EW/5–1845

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of European Affairs (Matthews)

[Washington,] May 18, 1945.

Mr. Balfour¹⁴ called this afternoon at his request and left with me the attached aide-mémoire¹⁵ with regard to the proposed departure of Mr. Pauley and Dr. Lubin for London. Mr. Balfour explained orally that while the British Government would be delighted to see Mr. Pauley and his party, he wondered whether their departure to London prior to a definite understanding with the Soviet Government as to just who would participate in the Reparations commission discussions might not be misunderstood. I said that personally I felt that a clear understanding with the Soviet Government should be reached certainly before the British and American members of the Commission proceeded to Moscow but that I thought Mr. Pauley’s plans for departure to London were so far advanced that it would be difficult to change them. I said, however, that I would be glad to present the British Government’s views to Mr. Clayton who had been handling the question.

Mr. Balfour then said that if a postponement of Mr. Pauley’s trip to London would be difficult to arrange, his Government hoped that at least Mr. Pauley and his party would stay in London until the question of the composition of the Reparations Commission is cleared up. He said that there would be many things to discuss in London and that while the British Government was somewhat handicapped at present owing to the fact that the top member of their commission had not yet been selected, he thought the appointment would be made very soon. Mr. Balfour also expressed the hope that the British would be present with our representatives during any discussions with the French at Paris. I told Mr. Balfour that I would be glad to pass on his aide-mémoire and his suggestions immediately to Mr. Clayton.¹⁶

14. John Balfour, British Minister in Washington.
15. Not printed; the aide-mémoire stated that the British Government would like to discuss with Mr. Pauley, following his arrival in London on May 20, the question of timing in proceeding to Moscow, since no satisfactory understanding had yet been reached with the Soviet Government regarding the participation of France, Poland, and Yugoslavia in the work of the Allied Commission on Reparations.
16. On the following day, Mr. Matthews received a telephone call from either Mr. Balfour or Mr. Makins of the British Embassy in which further concern was expressed on the imminence of Mr. Pauley’s departure and the proposed brevity of his stay in London. After consultation with Mr. Pauley, Assistant Secretary Clayton informed Mr. Makins that Mr. Pauley would leave on May 20 for London as scheduled but could then prolong his stay there if it appeared useful. (740.00119 EW/5–1945)