-3-
 
that shortly thereafter Dr. Benes hastened to furnish
 
sweeping assurances in this regard, and that the
 
British Government had then proceeded with a plan for
 
the bestowal of far-reaching formal recognition
 
subject to certain reservations regarding post-war
 
territorial settlements. This plan was submitted to
 
the Dominion Governments which, however, objected to
 
it as going too far, and consequently the British
 
Government withdrew it and substituted the more modest
 
proposals regarding recognition contained in the memo-
 
randurn attached hereto.
 
     These proposals were still under discussion with
 
the Dominion Governments at the time when the Russian
 
Government bestowed formal recognition on the Benes
 
Government by concluding the agreement mentioned in my
 
telegrams No. 3048 of July 17, 8 p.m. and No. 3049 of
 
July 17, 9 p.m. These developments in a certain sense
 
thus forced the British Government's hand. As mentioned
 
in my telegram No. 3089 of July 18, 10 p.m., the
 
British Government had no opportunity to consult the
 
Dominion authorities but could only inform them of its 
 
decision and the steps which it felt should immediately 
 
be taken to extend formal recognition. It Is believed
 
by the Foreign Office that the Dominions will, however,
 
appreciate the circumstances under which this decision
 
was taken and will likewise not object to the form of
 
the reservations regarding post-war territorial