Office of the Historian

330. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, October 25, 1957, 10:30 a.m.1

MTW MC–13
Washington, October 25, 1957, 10:30 a.m.

SUBJECT

  • GATT and the Common Market

PARTICIPANTS

  • U.S.
    • W—Mr. Dillon2
    • W—Ambassador Whitney
    • W—Ambassador Merchant
    • S/P—Mr. Smith
    • P—Mr. Berding
    • EUR—Mr. Jones
    • BNA—Mr. Parsons
    • BNA—Mr. Dale
    • OT—Mr. Frank
  • U.K.
    • Foreign Secretary Lloyd
    • Sir Norman Brook
    • Sir William Hayter
    • Sir Patrick Dean
    • Ambassador Caccia
    • Lord Hood
    • Mr. Jackling
    • Mr. Morris
    • Mr. Laskey
    • Mr. Leishman
    • Mr. Roper
    • Sir Edwin Plowden

Mr. Lloyd stated that, while the United Kingdom was in favor of the Common Market, his Government believed it was essential to supplement the latter by a Free Trade Area. A high-tariff Common Market in Europe would be disastrous. So far as the GATT was concerned, the U.K. thought the Six3 should not get a waiver now (on the overseas territories), but that the matter should be kept in play until the Free Trade Area is negotiated.

Mr. Dillon stated that, while it was true that this was no time to attempt to settle in detail the ultimate relationship between the Six and GATT, he felt that procedures could be worked out in the GATT to deal with the outstanding issues. Nothing should be done, however, which would interfere with the coming into effect of the Common Market on schedule. Mr. Lloyd indicated general agreement with this position.

  1. Source: Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 926. Confidential. Drafted by Frank, approved by Dillon, and circulated to appropriate U.S. officials on October 25.↩
  2. Dillon replaced the Secretary as head of the U. S. delegation, which was reduced in number, at approximately 12:20 p.m. (Eisenhower Library, Secretary’s Appointment Book)↩
  3. The original members of the European Economic Community were Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.↩