560.AL/12–2145: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Caffery)
Washington, December 29,
1945—7 p.m.
6083. Reurtel 7287, Dec. 21, 3 p.m.38
- 1.
- We would expect that multilateral arrangements providing for the reduction of tariff rates on specific products and limitation of other trade barriers which may result from negotiations with countries invited to participate in preliminary conference and the world trade conference would replace or override existing trade agreements with France and other countries parties to the contemplated multilateral agreement.
- 2.
- For your confidential information, it now appears that it will not be possible to issue our public announcement of intention to negotiate [Page 1359] with these countries until about the end of February. This will probably postpone date of preliminary conference to some time in June. The moving forward of date of preliminary conference would appear to provide an adequate interval for prior bilateral economic and financial discussions with the French. In these bilateral discussions, Dept agrees with you that our objective should be to obtain at least tentative commitments by the French in support of our long-run commercial policy objectives.
- 3.
- Prior to and during these bilateral discussions, however, it will be necessary for France, as well as all other governments intending to participate in preliminary conference, to proceed rapidly with detailed preparations therefor. While such preparations need not involve advance commitments as to substance, they will, for example, require that France begin at an early date to formulate the tariff concessions which it would be prepared to offer in respect of the products of the other participating countries. Also, the French Govt should indicate to these countries, at an early date, the products of which France is a principal supplier to their markets and on which it would desire to receive tariff concessions from them.
- 4.
- As indicated in Dept’s instruction no. 1657 [6287?] of Dec. 5, Dept intends to send you as soon as possible a detailed statement of its views regarding these and other procedures which it appears necessary to settle well in advance of preliminary trade conference. We would not wish to have these advance preparations delayed in any way by proposed bilateral discussions and you should resist any effort by French Govt to so delay these preparations.
Acheson
- Not printed.↩