640.6031/10–2249: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State
4427. Subject of east-west trade was discussed at the Paris meeting of Ambassadors.1 The discussion initially considered the broad utility of controls and their effectiveness in slowing down increase in the [Page 161] Soviet orbit’s war potential. Ambassador Kirk reviewed the substance of Moscow Embassy’s despatch 558 of October 1 on this subject.2 It was generally agreed that present US policy should be reviewed from the quantitative, qualitative and “know-how” aspects, to determine if it would be feasible to obtain greater effectiveness.
Effectiveness of implementation of the present policy was then discussed. It was the consensus that multilateral concerting of action, with the US participating, is necessary if most effective results are to be obtained. It was felt that multilateral concerted action can best be done by the State Department within the context of the mutual security obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty. If this is done Germany and Austria, although not signatories to the treaty, should present no long-term problem because of direct US authority therein. Chances of greater cooperation from Sweden and Switzerland could be expected if the Atlantic Treaty countries presented a combined front.
It was recognized that progress through the treaty organization is, however, likely to take some time. There is to be another meeting on east-west controls, called by the French, on November 14 at which the French, British, Italians, Dutch, Belgians and United States will particiapte and there is consequently need for positive US action on an urgent basis to prevent continued paring away of agreed lists. Steps might include action by the Department in conjunction with ECA to urge Denmark’s attendance at November 14 meeting; to inform all countries who will attend of US hope that meeting will recognize mutual security basis for concerting action and that concrete progress can be made at the meeting; and that the US will be represented by departmental representatives assisted by a technical staff in addition to ECA.
The discussions incident to negotiations of MAP bilaterals should also be used to stress the importance with which the US considers the concerting of effective controls over exports to the east.
Sent Department 4427, repeated Frankfort 103, London 447, Rome 159. Department pass Moscow 218.
- A meeting of principal United States Ambassadors in Europe was held in Paris, October 21–22, 1949. The discussions centered on German problems, the question of Western European cooperation in the military, political, and economic fields, and progress and setbacks in the cold war, including the Yugoslav-Cominform controversy and East-West trade. For documentation on the meeting, see vol. iv, pp. 469 ff.↩
- Ante, p. 142.↩