394.31/2–751: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the United States Delegation to the Torquay Conference, at Torquay, England1
priority
356. Re Deltels 404, Feb 6 and 409, Feb 9 [7].2
1. We believe US objectives in multilateral negots shld be (a) to achieve agreement on reductions at Torquay for inclusion in Torquay [Page 1343] results, even if limited to few items, and (b) to obtain agreement on methods and scope of similar negots to take place after Torquay. Not prepared to make more detailed suggestions until UK motivations in resisting are better understood. Hope firm decisions on scope negots can be deferred until Corse returns early next week. However, if objective (a) gets in way of achievement of (b), our present inclination wld be to concentrate on (b), in order to give Benelux some basis for signing Torquay protocol.
2. Prepared to make high level approach to appropriate govts if necessary to avoid situation in which no real progress made at Torquay on either 1a) or 1(b). Regard progress through MN’s at Torquay important for continued strength of GATT and critical for OEEC trade liberalization program.
3. Time extension issue being handled separate tel.
4. Personnel question in relation MN’s under active consideration here. Decision soon.3
5. Above cleared with ECA, Interior, Labor. Unable contact appropriate reps other agencies in time meet deadline.
- Repeated to Paris for OSR as 4128.↩
- In Torquay telegram 409, February 7, 10 a.m., Phelps had asked urgently for some indication of “Washington intentions” re: time extension of the conference and the extent of the effort contemplated to prevent the breakdown, “possibly imminent,” of the multilateral negotiations (394.31/2–751).↩
- This refers to the Vernon assignment; see footnote 3, p. 1337.↩