December 15, 1949
MEMORANDUM TO MR. WEBB:
Last night I dined at the Canadian Embassy alone with the Canadian and British Ambassadors. One of the things they wished to discuss with me was the recent paper on sterling balances which they gave to us. They recognized that it was purely a resume of facts without recommendations. They wished to have an opportunity to talk with me about this matter. I gathered the impression that the purpose was largely to determine how the matter should be considered from now on. I agreed to meet with them. It was agreed that we should each of us have with us the one or two people on whom we should rely and explore the situation. I did not gather that it was their idea that this talk would relate to the substance of the problem. As I recall it we tentatively arranged to meet in the last week of the year.
(Note: Today I called the Canadian Ambassador to verify the date and purpose. With reference to the latter point, the Ambassador said he was under the impression that the meeting would be substantive, after technical people on the other side had verified figures. I pointed out that I would not want to take on the job of trying to solve the substantive matter in the first instance, although I would be willing to meet to try to work out administrative procedure. I would rather turn over to the technically qualified official the greatest part of the burden of working out the substantive matters. The Ambassador said he would try to clear up these two questions and would let me know.)
S:DAcheson:be
DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation
Date: