560.M3/39: Telegram
The Chief of the American Delegation (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:12 p.m.]
7. My 6, July 4, 8 p.m. Afternoon meeting. Estonian exception on platinum, precious stones and corals admitted under paragraph 2 of article 6.
United States reservation on helium admitted under paragraph 2.
Swedish reservation on scrap iron admitted under paragraph 1.
Portuguese request concerning wool postponed pending receipt of further information. Exception on raw cork voted down under paragraph 2 and accepted under paragraph 1. I voted in the negative in the first instance and abstained in the second. I made final proposal for time limit which Portuguese delegate refused. The discussion brought out the fact that the Portuguese prohibition on the export of raw cork has been in existence since 1910 and that the Portuguese Government has never restricted the exportation of cork in sheets or other forms of manufactured, semimanufactured cork. Also that in commercial negotiations no objection has ever been raised to the Portuguese restriction on the exportation of raw cork which has for its purpose merely to furnish occupation for Portuguese peasants. Though I argued against acceptance, the Conference was overwhelmingly desirous of giving some satisfaction to Portugal to enable it to ratify. Therefore when it was inserted under paragraph 1, i. e. “temporary”, I abstained from opposition.
Portuguese reservation on pine resin admitted under paragraph 2.