460.509/12–950: Telegram
The United States High Commissioner for Germany (McCloy) to the Secretary of State
4806. Excon. Kroll, head German delegation CoCom, called on US element HICOM December 9, discuss export control.
Kroll gave emphatic assurances German Government prepared adopt and implement London lists1 and stated he instructed by Minister Erhardt to assume responsibility export control program and insure improvement performance. Specifically he indicated readiness deny to foreign trade banks flouting regulations right issue export licenses and issue new instructions to customs authorities requiring careful check exports.
Memorandum now being prepared by FedRef to CoCom accepting London lists but proposing pre-war period be used as basis for quantitative restrictions rather than post-war period before German exports revived.
Kroll stated Chancellor desires equality for Germany in control program and indicated if such equality granted enforcement would be greatly simplified. He was assured HICOM ready review present extraordinary restrictions on German administration upon receipt from Federal Government assurances they prepared adopt London lists and cooperate enforcement but reminded occupation statute would retain reserved powers this field. Meeting ended in expression hope German performance would be such that exercise reserved powers unnecessary.
Sent Department 4806, repeated information Paris 455.
- Telegram 4542, November 30, from Frankfort, not printed, reported that American, British, and French authorities had informed the German Federal Government of the successful conclusion of the Tripartite London Conversations on Security Export Controls. The American, British, and French Governments would implement the export control lists developed during the London meetings and would request other Coordinating Committee members to do likewise, desired Federal support in the Coordinating Committee, and expected that the current International Lists agreed upon in the Committee together with new lists developed during the London Tripartite Conversations would replace American lists 1–A and 1–B in the Federal Republic at the earliest practical time (460.509/11–3050).↩