394.31/9–1450
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador of the Union of South Africa (Jooste)
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Ambassador of the Union of South Africa and has the honor to refer to his note of September 14, 1950, concerning certain contemplated changes in the program of import restrictions of the South African Government, and to the accompanying memorandum from the South African Government to the Contracting Parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in which details of the changes are set forth.
The Government of the United States is giving careful attention to the contents of the above-mentioned memorandum and has noted the desire expressed by the Government of South Africa to meet certain objections to South Africa’s program of import restrictions discussed at the 3rd and 4th Sessions of the Contracting Parties. The Government of the United States is gratified at the progress toward reducing the degree of discrimination in the present program that appears on preliminary study to be reflected in the amended program.
Since the South African Government has been good enough to apprise the Contracting Parties of this program in advance of their 5th Session, at Torquay, the Government of the United States may take the opportunity at the Torquay meeting to secure additional information [Page 733] regarding certain of its features and to indicate such views as it may have concerning the program. The Government of the United States wishes to express its appreciation to the South African Government for the courtesy of being informed of the new program well in advance of the 5th Session.