Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The British Commonwealth, The Far East, Volume VI

611.4131/10–445: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

Washington, October 4, 1945—6 p.m.

8785. Today’s meeting of US–UK Commercial Policy Committee was devoted to question of subsidies and of agricultural policy generally. The British took position that American proposals appeared to be tailored to American situation and that, primarily because of provision in US proposals for eventual elimination of domestic subsidies, they would prevent United Kingdom from carrying out its program of agricultural subsidization.⁶⁷ Since the discussion revealed considerable agreement on basic objectives, matter was referred to a technical subcommittee for further consideration.

Acheson

67. The British also took the position that the American plan to allow export subsidies on commodities in world surplus would alleviate conditions in exporting countries but aggravate them in importing countries (611.4131/5–146, Folder 3, Third Meeting).