690.419/11–149: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:30 p. m.]
4354. 1. Foreign Office in consultation other interested departments is completing draft note subject export controls Far East for delivery in coordination US to France, Netherlands and Belgium (Deptel 3835, October 25). Foreign Office expects give Embassy approved draft shortly for submission Department. Embassy supplying Foreign Office selected list of 1B items as given Deptel 2156, June 22. Although Foreign Office has recollection of having seen such a list, it has no copy in its files. This list will have to be reviewed by Interdepartmental Committee. Embassy would appreciate receiving soonest any comments on list or amendments to list which may be under consideration.
Foreign Office professes difficulty may be encountered in “watching” all 1B items, that they cannot be watched until controls are established, that controls cannot be established until items to be watched [Page 888] are precisely defined, and that precise definition occasionally presents tedious problem. At instance “other departments” Foreign Office having in mind Macao would prefer include Portugal in list of governments whose cooperation is to be solicited. Foreign Office also inclined to belief program may be jeopardized if shipments to Nationalist China are to be excluded from screening.