Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

450.6031/4–2650: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bruce) to the Secretary of State

secret

Paris, April 26, 1950—3 p. m.

1917. Excon. 1. CoCom transit trade meetings held April 18, 20, 21, 24. Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, UK, US participated in most meetings.

2. Recommendations to governments were:¹

a. Each participating country should consider various practical methods suggested by customs experts to insure source countries that security goods reach authorized destinations and should adopt most efficient method.

b. Compile list of countries where diversion most likely to occur and carefully consider shipments thereto.

c. Consideration be given to exchanging information with other participating countries concerning suspect firms and individuals.

d. Participating countries should agree to receive information from other participating countries concerning despatch of security goods to own territory, and in exceptional cases should pass back information about movement of such goods in transit through their territory.

e. Further consideration be given to possible methods by which exporting countries should notify transit countries of despatch of security goods in transit through their territory.

3. US proposal regarding action by participating country to prevent unauthorized movement in-transit shipment when evidence of diversion uncovered not thought possible or practical by other delegations. US delegation reserved right reopen this subject.

4. Agreed subcommittee (consisting Denmark, Germany, US and any other interested participating country) will meet soonest to discuss and propose mutually acceptable controls on free ports, free zones, bonded and free warehouses with understanding any participating country not now possessing such facilities will advise CoCom of intention establishing such facilities and consult with it on security controls. Subcommittee meeting tentatively set May 8. Guinance of Commerce plans attend.

5. CoCom will discuss above proposals further July 10.

6. CoCom report on above transit trade meetings and US comment will be airpouched shortly.

Bruce

1. The substance of the Coordinating Committee recommendations reported upon here were contained in a circular airgram sent to all the missions in Europe on April 28, not printed.