Office of the Historian

493.419/8–2351: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom

secret
Washington, August 23, 1951—7 p. m.

1115. Urtel 912 Aug 14.1 Dept concerned unfortunate publicity re Brit ships carrying strategic goods Commie Chi, particularly Greystoke Castle. It is almost unavoidable that comparison will be made between efforts other countries (Panama, Liberia, Costa Rica) to prevent their vessels engaging in such trade and apparent UK approval of this action.

Dept aware that gen prob of carriage and chartering controls are unresolved in COCOM and Dept does not wish prejudge future discussions there. Dept believes, however, that major difficulty in COCOM re shipping concerns effect such controls on trade with Eur Sov bloc and not China.

Dept believes it is difficult for public (both in UK and US) to understand why UK shld permit its vessels to carry strategic goods to Commie China from any source when such goods cannot be exported from UK. In this connection, it might be noted that activities of Greystoke Castle in public eye appear inconsistent with UN embargo res of May 18.

Dept urges strongly that UK give urgent attn to this problem.

Reftel does not overcome strong suspicion gained from various intelligence sources that Greystoke Castle actually carried munitions to FE.

Pls bring above to attn of FonOff and advise Dept results.2

Rpt info AmEmbassy Paris 1143 Excon.

Acheson
  1. Telegram 912 from London, August 14 (not printed) contained a report that the Greystoke Castle had left Gdynia and arrived at Port Said on June 4 en route to the Far East (493.419/8–1451).↩

  2. In reply, the Embassy at London reported on August 31 that the problem of British ships carrying strategic goods to Communist China had been discussed with the British Foreign Office and that an officer of the Embassy was told the matter would receive prompt consideration. This was contrary to an impression the Embassy had gained formerly, when the Foreign Office stated that it understood the Cabinet had taken a very negative attitude toward any interference with the carrying trade at the time the U.N. embargo resolution was being considered. (Telegram 1159 from London, August 31, not printed; 493.419/8–3151)

    The Embassy at London reported on September 5 that although the matter was still being discussed in an interdepartmental committee, the Foreign Office advised the Embassy that there was no prospect of formal action by the British Government at present. The Foreign Office also indicated that the British Government would take no official action to control the carrying trade with Communist China without full multilateral discussion and agreement with cither major shipping countries, especially Norway. (Telegram 1225 from London, September 5, not printed; 493.419/9–551)

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