Office of the Historian

394.31/9–2051: Telegram

The United States ( GATT ) Delegation to the Secretary of State

confidential
Geneva, September 20, 1951—11 p. m.

Tagg 17. From USDel GATT. Cuban del GATT has not yet reed instrs re US proposal for severance GATT obligations with Czech. This matter extremely urgent and plenary discussion probable Sat, Sept 22. Vargas1 has cabled but no reply. Pls do utmost obtain immediate favorable instrs to Cuba del. Every vote counts.2

Dept also pass Habana. Priority sent Habana 1, rptd info Dept Tagg 17.

  1. Andres Vargas-Gomez, Special Adviser, Division of Economic Affairs, Cuban Ministry of State.↩

  2. On September 21 the following notation was inscribed on the action copy of this cable by Carl D. Corse, Chief of the Commercial Policy Staff: “Called Duwayne Clark [Counselor of Embassy in Cuba] saying it was completely accurate that every vote did count and asking strongest representations to Cubans. He indicated seeing F[oreign] O[ffice] this morning and will suggest Cubans cable Vargas as well as call him. Clark will cable results to Geneva & Dept.”

    The Embassy in Cuba reported at noontime, September 21 that the Embassy had been informed that instructions had been prepared and would be sent that day to the Cuban delegate at Geneva to “support and cooperate in every respect US proposal for severance GATT obligations with Czechoslovakia.” (Habana telegram 220, September 21, noon, 394.31/9–2151).

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