Office of the Historian

394.31/9–1951: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State 1

confidential
Ottawa, September 19, 1951—7 p. m.

Actel 7. Secy spoke to Schuman today in effort obtain French support for proposed waiver GATT obligations to Czecho. Secy explained US under Congressional mandate terminate concessions to Czechs. Pointed US would propose at GATT conference motion to approve bilateral termination. He stated that proposed action would be presented in such way as to avoid necessity for having those countries which support it rule on merits of issue between Czech and US.

Schuman mentioned that France supported US on recent air measures. He agreed consider possibility supporting US on issue of waiver GATT obligations.

Assume Dept will relay info Thorp (re Tosec 12)2 and suggest Thorp mention to Fr rep Geneva in order provoke followup Schuman promise reconsider.

Acheson
  1. The Western Ministers were in Ottawa for a session of the North Atlantic Council. Repeated by the Department to Geneva on September 20 (Gatt 28) (394.31/9–2051) and to Paris on September 21 (No. 1747) (394.31/9–1951).↩
  2. Not printed.↩