Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 348
Memorandum for the Record by the Counselor of the
Department of State (MacArthur)1
secret
SEAP D–9
[Washington,] August 25, 1954.
The Secretary approved the attached position paper as general guidance to the
US Working Group pending his arrival in Manila. He expressed the view that
it would not be useful to develop a formal economic organization within the
framework of the collective security organization which will result from the
proposed Treaty. He added, however, that this would not exclude the
possibility of adding “a few more words to the existing US draft of Article
3 to embellish it a little”.
[Attachment]
U.S. Position on Economic Cooperation at the Manila
Conference
- 1.
- The U.S., as its actions have testified, is keenly aware of the
importance of improving economic conditions in the Far East and
South Asia. The U.S. has undertaken various programs and made
substantial contributions toward this end.
- 2.
- For this reason the U.S. has proposed Article III which gives
recognition to the importance of economic cooperation and which
would permit developments in that direction.
- 3.
- The economic problems of free Asia involve relations between all
the countries of the area as well as relations with countries of the
West. Some of the countries which are most important in the economic
fabric of the area are not participants at the Manila
Conference.
- 4.
- The U.S. in general does not believe there should be an undue
proliferation of international organizations dealing with the
economic problems of the area.
- 5.
- For the reasons outlined in 3 and 4 above, the U.S. does not
believe it would be useful to develop a formal economic organization
[Page 794]
within the framework
of the collective security organization which will result from this
treaty.
- 6.
- The U.S. will, however, continue to actively pursue discussion of
economic problems and the possibility of economic cooperation at
such opportunities as may occur. The meeting of the Colombo Plan
countries at Ottawa, for example, will obviously provide one such
opportunity.
