D.O. telegrams 396 and 397 of October 2nd [1]-in my telegram S.92
of August 28th [2], I indicated that in my view we would be well
advised to determine our own policy with a view to taking
advantage of opportunity presented by Hull's conversation with
Halifax to arrive at an understanding with United States of
America, and thus avoid obvious danger of this question impairing
British-American relations.

Since sending you my telegram I have been doing what I can here to
get this issue faced and our policy determined, but with little
success. [3] My view of urgency of this problem was strengthened
as a result of a report by Law, Under Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, of conversations he had in Washington during a
visit there in September, particularly with Sumner Welles, who
expressed the strongest views as to necessity of an understanding
being arrived at. This necessity is now further emphasised by
Clark Kerr's report of his conversation with Willkie-D.O. telegram
396.

I suggest for your consideration that, in view of dangers to
British-American relations if an understanding is not arrived at
on this matter, you should cable urging the necessity of our
clearing our minds as to our post-war attitude with regard to
Colonies and Dependencies not ripe for self-government.

Whether you would add in telegram any indication of your views
depends of course upon what your Government's attitude is. My own
opinion is that in post-war period doctrine of international
responsibility in respect to dependent peoples will have to be
accepted; and old conception of complete national sovereignty and
control will have to be substantially modified.

If this view is shared by you and your Government, there would be
advantages in your indicating it, even if only in most general
way, as one of the strongest arguments of die-hard reactionaries
of old Imperial school against this question being faced is that
it would cause trouble with the Dominions. [4]

BRUCE