ECA Telegram Files, Lot W–130, Paris Repto: Telegram
The Special Representative in Europe for the Economic Cooperation Administration (Harriman) to the Administrator of the Economic Cooperation Administration (Hoffman)
Repto 7101. Reference Embtels Paris 44271 and London 813 repeated Department 4269.2
1. Believe it most important that determination broad policy as to multilateral approach suggested in reference telegrams be made in near future. Organizational responsibilities for implementation may, of course, be worked out later. Considering commencement operations of national organization; initiation negotiations on MAP bilaterals; and forthcoming November 14 Paris E-W trade meeting, seem to make the present the most opportune time to commence multilateral approach based on mutual security. If this opportunity not grasped [Page 164] and November 14 meeting results in lowering rather than increasing area of agreement, future action may become more difficult.
2. Believe first important step should be to maximize effectiveness of November 14 meeting and accordingly suggest ECA-W take up with State following proposals:
- (a)
- Paris Embassy undertake to persuade French to stress at meeting the increased importance of the mutual security aspects of East-West controls in light basic national philosophy.
- (b)
- US diplomatic missions in UK and France in conjunction with ECA Missions, advise Foreign Offices soonest of our proposed actions re November 14 meeting. Missions and ECA in Belgium, Netherlands and Denmark express to respective governments our hope that their approach to the problems to be discussed at meeting will give appropriate recognition to the mutual security interests in concerning East-West controls, that US will be represented at meeting by State Department as well as ECA and that we hope meeting will be able to make substantive progress. Missions and/or ECA in Italy and Norway might merely inform government of intensified effort by US to make forthcoming meeting successful. Any conversations with Norwegian and Danish Governments should additionally include our hope that they will attend.
- (c)
- US delegation at meeting should include in addition to OSR; a State Department representative, Dupre now here from Defense, and possibly a man from Commerce, in order to impress other participants our intensified interest. Believe present personnel Paris adequate for such technical discussion as may arise. Washington personnel should be kept to minimum for obvious security reasons.
- (d)
- Present agenda November 14 meeting (see Repto 6884, paragraph 2g3) aimed principally at obtaining Belgian and Dutch agreement Anglo-French list. Therefore, US representatives should have clear position as to adequacy this list as basis for multilateral concerting of controls. If A–F list not adequate, they should be instructed as to how to approach its expansion.
3. Special programs include Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. Representation first 2 hot considered necessary at November 14 meeting (see Paris 4425, paragraph 2).4 Latter two countries already invited by French, but in light emphasis on mutual security aspects herein proposed, question of their attendance might be raised with UK and France in conversations suggested 2(b) above.
4. If policy determination mentioned paragraph 1 above can be made in time, suggest for consideration that it would be desirable to have an informal exploratory discussion in National Consultative Group in Washington prior to November 14.
5. In view shortness of time before November 14, appreciate advice soonest.