800.42/347

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State

No. 13064

Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s despatch No. 13013 of December 30, 1943,2 regarding the attitude of the observer for the U.S.S.R. toward the Conference of Allied Ministers of Education, I have the honor to submit additional information about the attitudes of China, Australia and New Zealand toward the Conference gleaned from recent conversations between the Embassy’s observer and the observers of those Governments.

The Chinese observer stated that his Government has approved in principle China’s entry into the Conference but indicated that this would be conditional upon the expansion of the Conference, at least to include the United States.

The Canadian observer stated that Canada’s participation in the Conference is being studied very carefully in Ottawa and that a decision probably would not be reached immediately because of the difficulty of obtaining a measure of agreement between all the Provincial education authorities.

The New Zealand observer stated that the Dominion Governments would not send a representative or observer to the Executive Bureau of the Conference until the whole question of full Dominion participation is resolved. She indicated that her own Government is not anxious to incur financial obligations of any substantial proportions in connection with the Conference, and that no decision respecting New Zealand’s participation will be announced until the February plenary session of the Conference.

Respectfully yours,

For the Ambassador:
W. J. Gallman

First Secretary of Embassy