460.509/12–453
Note From the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Aldrich)to the Government of the United Kingdom1
Excellency: I have the honor to refer to the recent Anglo-American discussions on East-West trade. At the conclusion of those discussions the United States delegation expressed its profound [Page 1063] concern at the serious divergence which appeared to exist between the policy of the United States and the tentative views put forward by the representatives of the United Kingdom concerning the nature of the controls on trade with the European Soviet bloc which is now required in our mutual security interest.
I am now instructed to inform you that the United States Government has given most careful study to the statement made by the United Kingdom delegation on November 20 to which the United States delegation gave a preliminary reply on November 21. The United States Government fully endorses the views presented by the United States delegation at that time. My Government is greatly concerned at the possible course of action suggested by the United Kingdom and feels that so drastic a revision of the scope of the control system is not justified under present circumstances.
It will be recalled from the interchange between the United Kingdom and United States delegations that the problem apparently lies, not in disagreement concerning the nature of the international situation with which both countries are confronted, but rather in the apparent differences of view as to the nature and scope of a control system which will best stand the test of a long period of tension short of war and at the same time provide the level of control required by the ever-present risk of war.
These differences appear to center on the question of whether we should substantially curtail the scope of controls and control only items of a military or “near military” character or should continue to control other categories of items which have already been internationally classified as strategic, specifically including those items which are important to key sectors of the industrial base underlying the war potential of the Soviet bloc. On the United States side, it is felt strongly that the world situation requires the continuing control of items important to those sectors of the Soviet bloc economy which are particularly significant to the maintenance and build up of Soviet war potential. In addition, it is believed necessary to continue to recognize that certain capital goods and raw materials, whether or not currently used for the production of war materials, constitute a reservoir of productive capacity which could readily be mobilized for war production.
The need of the United Kingdom and other Western European countries to increase trade, both with the dollar area and with other areas of the world is recognized. However, it is not felt that any substantial expansion of export trade either can or should be induced by the elimination of controls over goods which are significantly strategic. Heretofore there has been general agreement among the countries cooperating in the control system that, in considering items for control, security considerations as distinct from [Page 1064] trade considerations should be regarded as the dominant factor. The vastly curtailed control list tentatively suggested by the United Kingdom statement would appear to represent a substantial departure from this policy.
It is understood that the views put forward by the United Kingdom delegation on November 20 were of a tentative and preliminary nature and would be further considered in the light of any comments which the United States might wish to make. During the recent discussions, the United States delegation indicated certain lines along which the United States Government considers modifications in the control system to be desirable, and indicated the United States Government’s readiness to consider the reclassification of specific items as well as other measures designed to make the controls more easily enforceable and to bring them into accord with the needs of the altered international position.
It is the hope of the United States Government that on further consideration the United Kingdom Government will find it possible to modify its earlier views so that the two Governments can proceed together very promptly to formulate a joint program of action for the future.
Accept [etc.]
- The source text was transmitted in despatch 2022 from London, Dec. 4.↩