560.AL/7–1846: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Harriman)
5569. Urtel 6799 July 18. Following is the proposed text of covering memo to accompany transmittal other Govts draft Charter:
“In December of last year the Government of the United States published and transmitted to other governments for their consideration a document entitled Proposals for Expansion of World Trade and Employment.
These Proposals put forward the idea that there should be established an International Trade Organization of the United Nations, the members of which would undertake to maintain employment by appropriate measures and to conduct their commercial policies and relations in accordance with rules to be set forth in the Charter of the Organization. The Proposals contained suggestions as to what these rules might be in the fields of trade barriers, intergovernmental commodity agreements, and restrictive trade practices on the part of private business, and outlined a suggested structure for the machinery of the International Trade Organization itself.
The Government of the United States has now prepared an elaboration of its Proposals in the form of a suggested draft Charter for an International Trade Organization, copies of which are transmitted herewith for the confidential use and information of the Government of _________.
Copies of the suggested draft Charter are also being transmitted to the Secretariat of the United Nations and to the other governments named by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations to serve as a Preparatory Committee for the projected international conference on trade and employment called by the Council in February of this year.
The Government of the United States wishes to emphasize the exploratory nature of the enclosed draft Charter, which is put forward by the United States solely as a possible basis for international discussion and not as a document expressing final or fixed views of the Government of the United States. Also, it is hoped the draft will [Page 1340] clarify obscurities and remove doubts or misunderstandings to which the condensed language of the Proposals may have given rise.
The Government of the United States proposed [proposes?] to publish the draft Charter at an early date in order to stimulate public discussion and consideration of the many points involved. The Government of ____________ will be notified before publication takes place.”
Substance of foregoing would also accompany subsequent public release of Charter.
Dept hopes that in light this statement Brit will raise no further objections transmittal or publication text prior Oct.