460.509/7–1151: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Gifford) to the Secretary of State
priority
231. Verbatim text. Excon. From Linder. Fol is text of proposal on “exceptions to security controls” which we expect will be approved substantially as fols by Tri working party. Comments in later tel.1
[Page 1148]Begin Text.
General Principles.
1. Subj to the special considerations involved in prior commitments, exceptions to gen rule of embargo in respect of list I items and to agreed quantities limits in respect of list II items will be made only when an exporting country wld otherwise face loss of supplies from Sov bloc which are essential to support its basic economy and thereby sustain its def effort.
Future Commitments.
2. Govts will, so far as possible, keep COCOM currently informed of any trade negots or proposed transactions which may result in such exceptions being made and will take into account comments made in comite. Govts will report to comite what agreement or decision is reached. The comite’s views on any exceptions which are made may be forwarded to the govt concerned which may be asked to take account of them in any future negots in which the same items are discussed.
Prior Commitments.
3. Prior commitments, i.e., contractual or other obligations entered into prior to date of introduction of control of item concerned, will only be made if an official commitment of a participating govt is involved, or if, in absence of an official commitment, that govt decides, having due regard to strategic importance of the goods and to probable consequences of not allowing the commitment to be honored, that the export shld not be prevented. In all such cases the appropriate monthly statistical returns to COCOM will indicate the considerations governing decision reached.
Sent Dept 231 rptd info Paris 73. [Linder.]
- Presumably reference to telegram 318 from London, July 16, infra.↩