Editorial Note
In a letter to Ambassador Bruce dated July 12, 1949, the French Foreign Minister referred to a conversation of June 27 when Bruce called on him to urge early adoption of trade controls. The letter confirmed the French Government’s decision to limit or prohibit export to the Soviet Union and its satellites of materials and products listed jointly by the French and British as strategic in nature. Schuman explained that the measures would require several weeks to implement and would be applied with some flexibility toward Yugoslavia and [Page 133] Finland. He pointed to the necessity of inducing a similar practice on other participating countries so that the measures would be effective and considered fair by all. In telegram 2902, July 13, from Paris, not printed, Ambassador Bruce observed that the communication appeared to be a firm commitment to institute trade controls. Bruce also reported that the Embassy had been informally told by the French Foreign Ministry that postponement of the institution of controls until August was the result of the French Government’s preference to defer application until the adjournment of Parliament. (640.6031/7–1349)