690.419/10–1449: Circular telegram
The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic and Consular Officers in China68a
SecState and Bevin have agreed on course to be pursued in limiting far as feasible export of goods to Chi and Korea which could be used for direct mil purposes by Chi and Korean Communists or by USSR and Eur satellites, to which such goods could be transshipped. It is contemplated both US and UK would prohibit exports to Chi and adjacent areas items classified 1–A (materials high mil significance), with possibility exceptions may be agreed to in specific cases. Imposition such controls by UK will, however, be conditional upon imposition similar controls by Fr, Belg, and Neth. Similar action on our part will follow upon working out of technical details. It agreed US and UK will make parallel approaches to Fr, Belg, and Neth to obtain their cooperation, that UK will approach Commonwealth countries and that we shall approach Phil to same end. We have assured Brit that SCAP now controls strategic exports from Jap to Chi. US and UK will also seek collaboration of Neth in arranging with major oil companies limit sales to Commie Chi and north Korea to normal civilian requirements, and avoid long term contracts. Finally, it anticipated that US, UK, and other cooperating countries will watch flow to these areas goods listed 1–B (key industrial, transportation, and communications equipment and supplies) and exchange info with view taking corrective measures if volume appears excessive or injurious their common interests. Heads our missions in countries concerned these arrangements, and those in FE possessions these countries, have [Page 885] been informed in detail of course action agreed on but have been instructed delay approaching governments to which they accredited until further agreement reached with Brit on timing.
- Sent to Nanking, Peiping, Shanghai, and Tientsin.↩