118. Editorial Note
Secretary Dulles arrived in Paris on May 2 for a series of talks with European officials prior to the opening of the North Atlantic Council meeting on May 4. In a letter to President Eisenhower, dated May 3, Dulles reported that he had held several conversations with Foreign Secretary Lloyd that day, in which “we covered most of our problems.” Dulles noted that he and Lloyd talked about the trade control problem, with Lloyd repeating what Eden had told Eisenhower in January about the British difficulty in placing copper wire on the prohibited list. “He did, however,” Dulles continued, “indicate that they might put it on the quantitative list which would hold down the amounts rather sharply if we could find two or three other items on the COCOM strategic list which could be taken off so that they would not be in the public posture of having met the Bulganin–Khrushchev plea for eliminating the list with a stiffening [Page 361] of the list. I am asking our people at home to study urgently whether something can be done along this line; and if you could reinforce that note of urgency, I would appreciate it.” The Secretary also mentioned that he and Lloyd discussed the CHINCOM list “along the agreed lines,” and indicated that he had made it clear “that our attitude on the Chinese list was part and parcel of our position with reference to copper.” This letter was transmitted to the Department in Dulte 3 from Paris, May 3. (Department of State, Central Files, 110.11–DU/5–456)
Tedul 11 to Paris, May 4, reads as follows:
“Re your discussion with Lloyd on China Controls. (Dulte 3)
“At EDAC meeting today all interested agencies felt lists A & B sufficient quid pro quo for addition copper wire to Quantitative control and suggest you reaffirm this position with British.
“However if UK not demanding major trading items but only interested in being able state publicly controls being reduced as well as increased, two items (discussed separate cable which follows) were agreed upon as least harmful if deletion some COCOM items absolutely necessary.” (Ibid., 460.509/5–456)