Editorial Note
On November 16, 1953, there convened in Geneva an International Tin Conference attended by delegates from several tin-producing and -consuming nations. Instructions for the United States Delegate, Dudley W. Figgis, were prepared by the Administrative Assistant to the President, Gabriel Hauge, in consultation with the Departments of State, Treasury, Interior, and Commerce. A copy of these instructions, dated November 10, which cautioned that the presence of a United States Delegate did not necessarily mean United States assent in principle to an agreement, is in file 398.2544/11–1053. By early December, the delegates to the Conference had prepared for submission to their respective governments an agreement designed to support the price of tin on the international market. The agreement was opened for signature in London from March 1 to June 30, 1954, and it appeared at the time that the failure of the United States to sign would cause certain failure of the agreement. (Telegram 176 from Geneva, December 9, 1953, 398.2544/12-953) For the reaction of the United States Government to this agreement, see the memorandum of conversation, January 25, 1954, page 1071.