840.20/11–249: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
4202. Pass Harriman. Question of treating export-control1 in NAT framework raised yesterday with British, French, Canadians, Italians and Norwegians preparatory to intel working group meeting today. Reaction of all except Italians rather cool. British felt handling in NAT framework wld make dealings with Swedes and Swiss more difficult, mentioned possible criticism that Pact whose purely defensive nature had been widely emphasized was being used for economic warfare against particular group of states, belief that Dutch and Belgians were progressing favorably and that nothing shld be done which might prejudice Nov. 14 meeting. Canadians and French ignorant of subj and inclined share British fear concerning economic warfare criticism. French suggested reps at Nov 14 meeting informally impress on Belgians and Dutch common security interest under Pact. Italians said they had already made representations Brussels and Hague.
Working group today were accordingly merely requested invite their respective govts to consider how this problem of common security interest to all Pact members cld best be handled on as nearly as possible identical lines by all Pact govts with hope of obtaining similar action by non-Pact govts and told we wld like further discussion of this subj in working group in near future. All agreed advise their [Page 351] govts. British suggested further consideration be deferred pending outcome Nov 14 meeting.
Advise Martin.2
Sent Paris, repeated London, Rome, Brussels and Hague, Oslo and Copenhagen.
- Documentation on U.S. policy respecting trade with Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union is scheduled for publication in volume v.↩
- Presumably Edwin M. Martin, Director of the Office of European Regional Affairs, who attended the meeting at Paris on November 14, documentation concerning which is included in the compilation on U.S. policy on trade with Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, scheduled for publication in volume v.↩