Editorial Note

On November 5, 1953, the National Security Council approved a revision of NSC 152/2, dated July 31, 1953, page 1009, in order to deal specifically with the question of Hong Kong and Macao as weak points in the Western effort to continue strict controls on trade with the People’s Republic of China. The revision, which entailed the addition of one paragraph (no. 17) under “General Considerations” and two paragraphs at the end of “Courses of Action,” is more fully described in volume XIV. The revised statement of policy, subsequently designated NSC 152/3, was dated November 6, 1953. On March 15, 1954, another revision, entailing the inclusion of one additional paragraph at the end of “Courses of Action,” was undertaken by the National Security Council in order to reduce to the general COCOM level the restrictions previously imposed on Japanese trade with the People’s Republic of China. A memorandum of the NSC discussion of this issue on March 11, 1954, is printed ibid. Finally, in June 1954, pursuant to the high-level discussions concerning the reduction of the International Lists on export controls, the National Security Council again revised NSC 152/3. For the text of NSC 152/3 as revised on June 18, 1954, see page 1207.