460.509/9–1053

Memorandum for the Files, by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Bonbright)

secret

Ambassador Butterworth told me this afternoon that when he saw the Secretary on September 81 he spoke to him about the necessity of our doing something about International Lists 1 and 2 if our entire East-West trade policy was not to fall to the ground. He said that he told the Secretary frankly that these lists had been padded and that officials, rather than face the possible accusation of being pro-Communist, had worked for the inclusion of items of dubious strategic value. The effect of this was to annoy our allies and jeopardize controls of items which were of real strategic importance. Mr. Butterworth did not indicate that the Secretary reacted one way or the other.

James C. H. Bonbright
  1. Ambassador Butterworth departed from Stockholm for London on July 22, 1953, prior to his return to the United States for a leave of approximately 2 months. He resumed charge of the Embassy in Stockholm on Oct. 9. (123 Butterworth, W. Walton)