Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, National Security Affairs; Foreign Economic Policy, Volume I

460.509/11–2251: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France ¹

secret
priority

Washington, November 22, 1951—1:55 p. m.

3126. No distribution outside Department. Eyes only Asst Secy Perkins.² From Martin³ and Leddy. In light of mtg Nov 21 with Johnson, Defense, ECA and Commerce, Dept believes Linder shld discuss fol three subjs relating Battle Act with Harriman soonest and Perkins shld ask Harriman make no final decisions involving these subjs until after discussions with Linder in Rome.⁴

1. Publication of list of primary strategic items. Johnson will recommend Title I, first category (munitions, atomic energy items) be transmitted unclassified. All agencies agree this recommendation. However, Johnson will recommend Title I, second category (primary strategic items in respect of which pres exception possible) also be transmitted with full details on unclassified basis to Cong and countries. Dept continues believe this a gratuitous weakening of security and violation commitment COCOM countries not to publish IL/I which they wish kept secret for security and other reasons. Believe also publication detailed List I may impair efforts of countries such as France and Italy with internal polit difficulties to maintain controls which they have succeeded in establishing partly because in absence details less public clamor against them. Furthermore necessity to publish in detail may prejudice ability of countries such as India institute embargo list. Secy Sawyer also opposes unclassified transmission this list. Dept willing list be sent classified to FonGovts, to chairman six Comites Cong and interested congressmen. Believe this meets requirements Battle Act. Wld deal with public and gen Congressional opinion by means generalized list without specific details. If Harriman inclined support Johnson recommendation re publication believe we shld maintain confidential character of list at least until have had opportunity ascertain from key countries their estimate of effect of publication on ability comply with Act.

2. Presentation to FonGovts and Cong of short Title II list muchless extensive than present IL/II Johnson will recommend determination nr 3 be issued comprising only unagreed IA items, rubber and some IL/II items recently agreed by COCOM for IL/I. Reasons given for this determination and presentation to Cong and countries are short list 1) will make clear to Cong we plan do something re tin and rubber and 2) will emphasize to other Govts importance US attaches to strictest control possible on these items. Several items on short list have already been agreed for embargo by COCOM. Virtually all the rest (coal, machinery, rubber, etc.) have been exhaustively explored recently without success. Dept believes nothing can be gained in the way of additional control on such items by initially limiting Title II list to these items. Dept further believes short List II a) will tend carry implication with COCOM countries that US now plans reopen embargo question on items recently rejected for embargo and b) will be confusing element in negots with COCOM and other countries if, as seems inevitable, we substantially extend this list in relatively near future.

There is no legislative requirement for action on Title II at this time and Dept believes sufficient for public relations to notify Cong and other Govts that in addition to Title I lists an extensive list of items including tin and rubber is being prepared as basis for program of negots with other countries for meaningful control these items.

3. Exceptions. Paris tel 3007 Nov. 20⁵ Dept distribution only says “Harriman considers MDAC principles and procedures shld conform so far as possible to those developed in COCOM in order maintain cooperative multilateral program”. Dept believes exceptions question most difficult matter of procedure and principle but wld hope that tightening COCOM exception procedure cld be achieved if there were willingness on part USGovt give fullest weight to COCOM exception recommendations when reaching decision on Battle Act exceptions.⁶ However Johnson apparently inclined do no more than treat COCOM judgment on exceptions as merely “one of factors to be taken into acct” by Administrator. Though obvious US can not give commitment to be bound by COCOM decision, hope Harriman will agree that desirable to make strong statement on importance US will attach to COCOM views.

Wld hope you can persuade Harriman veto proposal for unclassified transmission List I second category in view strong State opinion, Commerce views and COCOM objections, and delay transmission of any Title II list for present. Also that Harriman will agree desirability of strong statement re weight to be given COCOM judgment on exceptions assuming satisfactory success tightening procedure. [Martin and Leddy.]

Webb

1. Drafted by Moline and cleared with Leddy and Camp; repeated to Rome eyes only for Linder.
2. Perkins and Harriman were part of the United States Delegation which went to Paris for the Sixth Session of the United Nations General Assembly and then to Rome for the Eighth Session of the North Atlantic Council, November 25–28. For documentation concerning the Sixth Session of the UNGA, see vol. ii, pp. 1 ff. For documentation on the Eighth North Atlantic Council Session, see vol. iii, pp. 693 ff.
3. Edwin M. Martin, Director of the Onice of European Regional Affairs.
4. In telegram 3125 to Paris, November 22, the Department of State informed Perkins that it had serious reservations about recommendations which it understood were being made to Harriman by his staff regarding the implementation of the Battle Act and urgently requested Perkins to convince him to defer these decisions until he could discuss the problems with Linder in Rome. (460.509/ 11–2251)
5. Not printed.
6. The following sentence was deleted from the source text at this point before It was transmitted: “Though obvious US can not give commitment to be bound by COCOM decision hope Harriman will agree that desirable to make strong statement on importance US will attach to COCOM views.”