560.AL/12–1445
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State for European, Far Eastern, Near Eastern, and African Affairs (Dunn)
The Norwegian Ambassador referred to the invitation sent out a few days ago to fourteen nations to discuss trade arrangements preliminary to the meeting of the International World Trade Conference. Mr. Morgenstierne said that he felt that in view of the importance of Norway’s position in commerce and shipping generally, she was entitled to be included among the nations invited to this preliminary arrangement.
Mr. Acheson21 explained to the Ambassador that these invitations were not concerned with arrangements or preliminary discussions relating to the International World Trade Conference; they were for the purpose of negotiating tentative arrangements which could later be put in the form of trade agreements with certain countries, the trade in certain commodities with regard to which the tariffs were at present on a high level. The intention of the discussions provided for in these invitations was to put the United States in a position to lower its duties in the event agreements were entered into between other countries to lower their duties and generalize such agreed reductions. Mr. Acheson explained that it was necessary for the United States in conformity with the existing statutes regulating tariffs to proceed along these lines and negotiate these tentative arrangements as it was not possible for us? to agree to make general horizontal reduction in our tariffs. By working out these interim arrangements we would be in a position to go along with substantial reductions in tariffs which would correspond to a general reduction which might be entered into by the other countries in the International Trade Conference.
Mr. Acheson asked Mr. Dunn to undertake to give Mr. Morgenstierne further information with regard to these proposed negotiations, [Page 1350] in order that he might fully understand the position which required our undertaking these conversations.
- Dean Acheson, Under Secretary of State.↩