693.419/11–2049: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:27 p. m.]
4628. Embtel 4484, November 9. According Tomlinson, Foreign Office instructions to British Embassy Washington transmitting draft note re China trade controls for discussion with Department almost ready for despatch. Ministry Defence has questioned practicability of identifying selected 1–B items for “watching”. Embassy representatives informed Tomlinson BoT73 had been exchanging data with US re entire list 1–B shipments to eastern Europe, so that no great difficulty should be encountered. Defence also concerned over possible release 1–A items to Chinese Nationalist areas “under conditions that serve national interests of cooperating governments” (paragraph 5, Depcirair October 11) since Defence fears these will ultimately fall into hands of Communist Chinese. Foreign Office hopes resolve these two remaining questions, and release instructions. Participation [Page 897] Portuguese being urged, though not being considered by Foreign Office as condition to initiation of program among other four powers. Foreign Office queried whether Portuguese fully familiar 1–A and 1–B lists. Please instruct.
Embassy representatives suggested Tomlinson incorporate in instructions reference to timing “parallel approach” Paris, Hague, and Brussels.
Sent Department 4628, repeated Paris 901 (for OSR), The Hague 207 (for ECA), Brussels 215 (for ECA).
- (British) Board of Trade.↩