690.419/6–2249: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Douglas )
2158. From Commerce and State for Martin and McIntyre:
Mazzocco,46 NME, in memo to J. M. George47 has, in view absence actual NME clearance U.S. position paper, expressed NME position re export controls to Far East as follows:
- “1. The objectives of the National Military Establishment are:
- (A)
- to impede the growth of Communist military power in the Far East.
- (B)
- to prevent the flow of goods which would increase the military power of all unfriendly areas.
- “2. Implementation of objectives:
- (A)
- Application of export controls to the Far East by the United States on all strategically important commodities.
- (B)
- Multilateral action by friendly governments in applying export controls to the Far East.
- “3. The increasing spread of Communist influence in the Far East is recognized by the National Military Establishment as a threat to the security of the United States. This Communist influence and the resulting military power of those forces can be expected to have as a prime objective the maintenance of a large military establishment equipped with modern weapons.
- “4. To develop a large military establishment, the Communist forces in East Asia will seek to procure machinery, equipment, and related materials for the production of the implements of war. Inasmuch as the USSR is itself endeavoring to import such items, it is reasonable to assume that the Communist forces in East Asia will look to the Western nations to supply the needed facilities and most of the materials and techniques required to develop a war machine of a high order.
- “5. One method whereby the growth in Communist military potential can be impeded is by withholding exports of highly strategic commodities. Only to the extent that Western nations are successful in preventing the imports of such strategic commodities by Far Eastern Communist forces will their strategic plans in that area be frustrated.
- “6. The objectives of deterring the growth of Communist military power in the Far East can best be achieved by multilateral action by Western nations in applying controls on exports of highly strategic commodities to that area. Accordingly, the participation of the United Kingdom and other friendly nations in the surveillance of Far Eastern Communists is necessary if controls are to be effected.
- “7. The expansionist aims of Communist forces in the Far East, in addition to threatening the military security of the United States, represents an immediate danger to areas adjoining China. These areas, such as Indo-China, Malaya, Siam, and Burma are of the utmost importance to the United Kingdom, the French, and the Dutch. Any negotiations of a multilateral nature with Western nations should stress this point in connection with applying export controls to the Far East.
- “8. The National Military Establishment desires to apply no contractionary pressures on the traditional commerce of the Far East. The areas in question are so backward economically that its trade has been essentially nonstrategic. The NME desires merely the exercise of restraints covering only that segment of the future trade which will consist of shipments of highly strategic commodities to potentially unfriendly areas.”
Discussion between Mazzocco and George indicated NME prefers set forth its position and allow State–Commerce formulate U.S. position taking into consideration NME statement. NME position discussed Ad Hoc Group which concurs in general and believes U.S. position paper, as revised, adequately sets forth U.S. position at this time. [Commerce and State.]