740.00112A E.W. 1939/36251: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 29—7:27 p.m.]
8338. For limited distribution only. For WT.40 Reference paragraph 7 Embassy’s 8076, November 19.41 The following is an excerpt from the text of a letter dated November 26 from Mr. Foot, Parliamentary Secretary of MEW, concerning the draft statement with respect to post-armistice listing contained in the Department’s 6923, [Page 344] November 4. It is to be noted that further amendments may be suggested by other interested Departments of the British Government:
“Subject to the views of the other Departments concerned, to whom I am circulating copies, this statement is quite acceptable to us. I would, however, like to suggest, for your consideration, the following minor amendments to the sentence which reads: ‘In view of the total character of the present conflict and its vast impact upon commerce, it will necessarily take time to effect adjustments of economic warfare controls following the cessation of hostilities; such adjustments will be carried out with due regard to specific circumstances’.
“In the first place, I suggest that after the words ‘cessation of hostilities’, we should add ‘in any theatre of war’. I think this would make the meaning clearer. Secondly, we are not quite certain what significance attaches to the words ‘such adjustments will be carried out with due regard to specific circumstances’. On the whole we do not think they add very much, and they might give rise to misunderstanding. However, if your Government think that these words are important, we will not press the objection.
“We should like to urge one further amendment in the last sentence. This refers to ‘nationals of, or residents in neutral countries (deletion marks) who have continued to render other important aid to the economy of the enemy’. We should prefer this to read ‘who have rendered other important aid to the enemy’. We do not see why the word ‘continued’ is necessary. Moreover, it has occurred to us since the last draft statement was sent to Washington that the limitation to ‘aid to the economy of the enemy’ might be held to rule out those whose services to the enemy took another form, for example propaganda.”