693.419/8–549: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 6—2:47 a. m.]
3092. ReEmbtel 3061, August 4. Dickover54 and Bartlett55 reviewed aide-mémoire re export controls to China with Berthoud of Foreign Office. Berthoud stated decision of course must be taken at ministerial level, but mentioned that (1) UK anxious not jeopardize its substantial investments Cochinchina [Communist China?]; (2) Before any specific additions to present UK 1–A list were made, UK would have to consult French among others; (3) If present UK position were changed, US and UK might preferably consult French and others on both 1–A and 1–B actions rather than attempt handle problem in two steps. And, (4) Foreign Office apprehensive re defending proposed new controls over selected 1–B items because they would have to be justified on basis considerably broader concept of national security requirements than that on which present 1–B controls had been justified.
Berthoud seemed clearly worried at broad political implications involved in attempting to devise scheme whereby western powers might use economic strength influence Communist Chinese. At conclusion discussion, he referred to use USSR and satellites were making of 1–A controls in order to belabor UK, and wondered whether results of 1–A [Page 870] controls outweighed ill effects of propaganda weapon which their existence gave to USSR.