Editorial Note

In accordance with an exchange of correspondence of January 30 and February 7, 1950, between Under Secretary of State James E. Webb and William C. Foster, Deputy Administrator of the Economic Cooperation Administration, certain East-West trade control responsibilities previously performed by the Economic Cooperation Administration were transferred to the Department of State, effective March 1, 1950, in Washington and April 15 in overseas diplomatic missions. As of April 24, the major responsibilities for East-West trade control matters, including all negotiations and representation in the Consultative Group and Coordinating Committee were transferred from the Office of the Special Representative in Europe for the Economic Cooperation Administration to the newly established Trade Problems Staff within the Embassy in France. Charles E. Bohlen, the Minister in France, exercised general direction over the Trade Problems Staff and served as United States Representative on the Consultative Group. Nat B. King, First Secretary in the Embassy in France, was directly in charge of Trade Problems Staff activities and served as United States Representative on the Coordinating Committee. Documentation on the transfer of East-West trade responsibilities to the Department of State is included in the Department of State’s Central Files under file number 460.5031.