394.31/3–2651
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Chief of the Commercial Policy Staff (Beale)
Subject: Tariff Negotiations with Australia at Torquay
- Participants:
- The Honorable Norman J. O. Makin, Australian Ambassador
- Mr. Owen Davis, First Secretary, Australian Embassy
- E—Mr. Willard L. Thorp, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs
- BNA—Mr. Livingston Satterthwaite
- CP—Mr. W. T.M. Beale
Mr. Thorp introduced the conversation by saying that he wanted to express the deep concern of the United States Government regarding the position taken by the Australian Government at the Torquay negotiations. [Page 1304] He reviewed the background briefly, along lines of his conversation with Mr. Steel and Mr. Burns of the British Embassy as recorded in a Memorandum of Conversation of the same date.1
Mr. Thorp said that because of the inter-relationship of the imperial preference system Australia seemed to hold the key to the success of the Torquay negotiations but appeared unwilling to take the key out of their pocket and thereby open up negotiations. He said that he appreciated the difficulties of the Australian Government in view of the forthcoming elections but wished to point out that the results of Torquay would not be known until after the elections had taken place. Moreover he felt that no Australian Government could fail to gain if the negotiations were a Success and included the concession on wool which the United States had offered at Torquay.
Mr. Thorp said that he would not enter into the details since they were set forth in the Aide-Mémoire,2 which he had prepared for the use of the Ambassador.
The Ambassador said that he could fully appreciate Mr. Thorp’s concern and that he would immediately communicate with his Government indicating the deep concern which the United States felt in connection with the negotiations at Torquay.