Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON November 25, 1949 SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS EUROPEAN Belgian Foreign Minister Van Zeeland has informed INTEGRATION Ambassador Murphy that while he feels progress is being made toward western European economic inte. gration, he considers this inadequate in volume and too slow in tempo. He added that the tendency of US representatives to avoid positive comments on various European proposals was impractical, although laudable in principle, since he believes that integration can only succeed if our representatives are willing to take firm positions on all concrete proposals, while admitting that eventual approval must obviously lie with Congress. British Foreign Minister Bevin has indicated his approval of our draft message to the OEEC countries on the subject of strengthening the OEEC and appointing a strong personality to head the organization, stating that if this course is approved by the US and the other OEEC countries the UK would offer no opposi- tion. Bevin told Ambassador Douglas that while this latter phrase meant just what it said, he would attempt to secure from his govern- ment authorization to take a more affirmative position, though he made it clear that in no case would the UK become an enthusiastic initiator and advocate of this proposition. ITALIAN Our Embassy in London shares the concern of the COLONIES British Foreign Office as to how the UK can, under the recently approved General Assembly resolution on the Italian colonies, assure its strategic facilities in Cyrenaica for a period longer than two years, or beyond the time when Cyrenaica is to be merged into a United Libya. Ambassador Douglas suggests that, in view of the various complicating factors, this can probably only be done if at some time before January 1, 1952 the UK were to recognize the independence of Tripolitania and negotiate with it a treaty similar to the one which will be concluded with Cyrenaica. This would mean that two of the three component parts of United Libya had such treaties, and it would be easier to secure 2. continuance of this agreement with the successor regimo after January 1, 1952. CHINA We have informed our representative in Hong Kong that we would be glad to extend all appropriate assistance to President Li Tsung-jen for a trip to the US State [ HC 11-13-80