501.BD Europe/8–2549: Telegram
The United States Deputy Representative to the Economic Commission for Europe (Porter) to the Secretary of State
997. Noce 593. From Porter. Myrdal informs me that Arutiunian in closing days of ECOSOC session1 asked him when he planned to convene another meeting of ECE trade committee. Myrdal replied he had no intention to convene another meeting until he had firm assurance that Russians, who had caused failure of last trade committee meeting, would be cooperative at next. He thought minimum degree of cooperation would be Soviet willingness to permit satellites to supply ECE with enough data to permit practical negotiations toward expanded trade. He would await demonstration by Soviets that they regarded committee as agency for useful work rather than propaganda. He added that in two years ECE had been in existence Russians had not contributed “single damn thing” to its work. Myrdal said Arutiunian made no comment other than to suggest that Myrdal put his observations in memorandum to Soviet Foreign Office.
Myrdal has since sent memorandum suggested by Arutiunian. At suggestion of Koktomov, his Russian deputy, memorandum was then edited into a generalized statement issued within past few days to all governments under title “Memorandum on Future Work in Field of Trade” (ME/564/49).2 Copies airmailed to Camp3 and Bonsai.4 My impression is that unless original memorandum was more direct than this document, Soviet Foreign Office might fail to understand Myrdal’s intent.
Myrdal and Koktomov last week personally presented an aide-mémoire to Bulgarian and Rumanian Ministers in Bern urging their governments take active part in ECE committee on agricultural problems, first meeting of which scheduled October 3–5. He and Koktomov will soon visit Praha and Budapest for same purpose. Myrdal said no special approach being made to Poland, Yugoslav Governments, whose cooperation he expected anyway.: Secretariat feels that agricultural committee likely to provide mechanism whereby east will seek expansion of east-west trade.
Koktomov will later take home leave in Moscow. While there he will urge Soviet Foreign Office show more sympathetic attitude toward ECE. During conversation with me, Myrdal expressed general views on Soviet policy, which may be of interest to Department as [Page 139] indication of his current thinking. He said it was his personal view that Russians became convinced about year ago that military and economic strength of US made it impossible for them to hold their present positions in Europe. He associates last winter’s changes in government with this basic decision. He thinks that Russians will strive to maintain control over satellites, but prepared negotiate withdrawal from Germany. Whenever such negotiations might be undertaken, he thinks enlarged east-west trade would be important bargaining issue. However, he believes Russians for past several months have been reexamining their decision in light of (a) possibility US recession might become serious, (b) possibility of serious divergence between US and UK. Myrdal said he was alarmed over possibility breakdown of September financial talks might cause democratic west to lose its great-gains of past two years.
Myrdal also told me he had written Lie that he thought British [Russians?] were perhaps adopting friendlier attitude toward ECE, which might also imply better support of UN”. What Myrdal regards as straws in wind are separately reported in airgram.
Sent Department 997, repeated Moscow 16, Paris 102 for Harriman, pouched Warsaw, Praha, Sofia, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest, Frankfurt.
- Reference to the 9th Session of the U.N. Economic and Social Council, held in Geneva, July 5–August 15.↩
- Not printed.↩
- Miriam Camp, Special Assistant on International Economic Organizations.↩
- Philip W. Bonsal, Political Adviser to the Special Representative in Europe for the Economic Cooperation Administration (Harriman).↩