611.4231/2179
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. James C. H. Bonbright of the Division of European Affairs
| Participants: | Mr. Merchant Mahoney of the Canadian Legation, |
| Mr. Hickerson of Eu,2 | |
| Mr. Bonbright of Eu, | |
| Mr. Southworth of TA.3 |
Mr. Hickerson called in Mr. Mahoney, Commercial Counselor of the Canadian Legation, this afternoon and handed to him three copies of the list, which we hope to make public early next week, of the products on which this Government will consider making concessions in the proposed trade agreement with Canada. In talking with Mr. Mahoney, Mr. Hickerson stressed the following points:
- (1)
- He made it very clear that the publication of this list involves no commitment whatever on the part of this Government to grant a concession on any of the products listed and that publication merely indicates products which this Government will give consideration to. Mr. Mahoney said that this was very well understood.
- (2)
- Mr. Hickerson said that it was impossible at this time to give any indication as to the products upon which concessions could be granted, or the extent of such concessions, since in no case has even a recommendation for a concession been placed before the Trade Agreements Committee.
- (3)
- With regard to the products on which Canada had requested concessions and which had not been approved for publication by the Trade Agreements Committee, Mr. Hickerson made it clear that in practically every case the product had been dropped from the list because our statistics did not reveal that Canada was the principal supplier. He expressed the hope that we would have any comment which the Canadians might wish to make by the end of this week and [Page 165] that we would be very glad to give further consideration to listing any of the dropped items with regard to which the Canadians might be in a position to supply additional statistics to support their claim of being the principal supplier, actual or potential.
- (4)
- In conclusion Mr. Hickerson told Mr. Mahoney that the list handed to him had not yet received the approval of the Secretary of State and that naturally any changes which the Secretary might wish to have made in the list would have to be the subject of further discussion.
[For formal notice on January 29, 1938, of the intention of the Government of the United States to negotiate a new trade agreement with the Government of Canada and for list of products of which Canada is the chief or important source of supply to the United States, see Department of State, Press Releases, January 29, 1938, pages 158 ff.]