560.AL/2–148: Telegram

The Ambassador in Cuba ( Norweb ) to the Secretary of State

secret   us urgent

133. For Clayton from Wilcox. Expecting you Wednesday morning. Hope you can remain several days. Need your advice and help on major issues still pending:

1.
Can probably win decision against QR for protection (Article 20 and 13) but must persuade or defeat Uruguay, Venezuela and Chile.3
2.
Can probably secure adoption acceptable provisions on new preferances customs unions free trade areas (Article 15 and 42) but must defeat Venezuela and Chile, persuade countries of Central America and Middle East and work out relation to Marshall Plan with British and French.
3.
Must defeat efforts of European countries to remove or postpone limits on discrimination (Article 23) and reject French contention that freedom to discriminate is necessitated by Marshall Plan. British are opposing US on subsidies in order to improve their bargaining power on discrimination.
4.
Must deal with efforts by Uruguay, Venezuela, Greece, Swiss to establish additional justifications and escapes for QR. Greeks would use import quotas to force exports of tobacco in bilateral deals; otherwise cannot accept Charter; our economic and political support of Greece gives problem special significance. British and French propose to let Swiss join ITO (International Trade Organization) without assuming any obligations until 1952; Swiss unlikely to accept Charter on any other basis; believe you should talk with Stucki1 before we turn them down.
5.
Have made no progress on relations with non-members (Article 93). Even if we ignore Czechs, will be difficult to get acceptable provision from Swedes, Poles, French, others.
6.
British continue to be obstructive on Germany and Japan. To get acceptable provisions must override Poles and Czechs and put real pressure on British, French and Chinese.

All foregoing questions are now pointed up for quick decisions when issues are forced. All other Charter questions are closed or have answers clearly in sight. With your help, should be able to terminate conference between February 15 and February 20. [Wilcox.]

Norweb
  1. Walter Stucki, Delegate of the Swiss Federal Council for Special Missions, Vice President of the General Committee at the Habana Conference.