Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, General: Economic and Political Matters, Volume I, Part 2

461.419/11–2153: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich) to the Department of State¹

secret

London, November 21, 1953—4 p.m.

2206. Excon. Re Embassy telegram 1996, November 6 [7], repeated Paris Topol 48.² Following summarizes second US–UK pre-CG bilateral November 20 and 21:

1. UK presented detailed statement which represented preliminary conclusions their policy review. Statement indicated UK seriously considering fundamental change basic policy. Statement calls for replacement International Lists I and II by single very short embargo list with virtually no exceptions contemplated. Unclear whether items to be deleted from present lists would be retained on List III. Underlying objectives above program described as:

a. Facilitating maintenance of control system for long-term cold war;

b. Meeting need for expansion of export markets arising from growth of buyers market, German and Japanese trade revival, and anticipated further reduction US aid;

c. Facilitating enforcement of controls by simplification and promotion of public support.

2. US statement took issue with basic conclusions of UK re necessity or desirability exclusion from future control those categories items which not of “near military” nature, which appears be basic issue underlying differing nature UK view and US policy re requirements and direction export control program.

3. In view obvious divergence basic criteria for scope control program, US felt CG meeting as scheduled would probably be useless and agreements on subsidiary points not meaningful without substantial amount on fundamental policy considerations. UK agreed CG should be postponed till after new year giving time UK reconsider above and allow time for joint resolution whatever divergences might still exist. Request Department confirm this position and instruct USDel for November 24 meeting.³ Also request Department instruct other missions to refrain from connecting US-UK bilaterals and CG postponement. Instead reasons should be time element and pressure other commitments such as NATO and Bermuda.⁴

US offered and UK agreed desirability formal US Government position follow up preliminary delegation’s view expressed today. Delegation will hand carry UK statement and Embassy hopes formal US position can be transmitted soonest. Complete US and UK statements being pouched Department and Missions.

Aldrich

1. Repeated to Paris.
2. Not printed, but see footnote 2, p. 1039.
3. The Department of State replied to this request in telegram 2905 to London, Dec. 1, 1953, authorizing the Embassy to report to the British Government that the United States wished to “strongly affirm” the position taken by the delegation in London. (460.509/12–153)
4. The references here are to the NAC Ministerial meeting in Paris in December 1953 and to the Bermuda Conference of Dec. 4–8, 1953; for documentation on these meetings, see vol. v, Part 1, pp. 454 ff. and Part 2, pp. 1710 ff.