169. Editorial Note
At the CHINCOM meeting of May 21, the United States Delegation presented another compromise proposal on the China trade control question. The proposal followed the Department’s instructions in Topol 2219 to Paris, May 19. (Department of State, Central Files, 493.009/5–1957) Polto 2766 from Paris, May 21, reported that the British and Japanese Delegations declared the United [Page 462] States proposals unacceptable as a basis for negotiation at that meeting. “Other delegates which commented,” the telegram stated, “while expressing appreciation, said still not adequate, stressing majority favor French proposal.” The telegram also reported that the CHINCOM chairman suggested that a group of Delegates, acting personally and not as delegates, attempt to develop a compromise proposal that might be acceptable as a basis for further discussion in CHINCOM. (Ibid., 493.009/5–2157)
Polto 2769 from Paris, May 22, transmitted to the Department the texts of two proposals for China controls developed that evening by the informal CHINCOM group. Proposal A called for the maintenance of the status quo on List II items for 12 months; the application of Document 782 procedure to 11 items and possibly some additional items on List II; the disposition of 35 items, subject to immediate review and, for the time being, application of the Document 782 procedure; and review of the whole control system for China after 12 months. Proposal B called for the maintenance of the status quo for List II items for 12 months; the application of immediate reporting after licensing procedures for 11 items on List III, with the remainder subject to Document 782 procedure; disposition of 35 items, subject to immediate review and, for the time being, application of the Document 782 procedure; and review of the whole control system for China after 12 months. (Ibid., 493.009/5–2257)
Topol 2250 to Paris, May 22, authorized the United States Delegation to support Proposal A, but not Proposal B, indicating that “while compromise goes beyond US proposals in CHINCOM, US prepared accept in interests preserving a consensus on effective continued CHINCOM controls.” (Ibid.) At the CHINCOM meeting of May 24, eight of the Participating Countries accepted Proposal A, while five others rejected it, one abstained, and another requested instructions from its government. The Department reported the results of the meeting of May 24 in telegram 2598 to Tokyo, also sent to Copenhagen, Lisbon, and Oslo. The telegram explained that the “Department wishes make final further attempt isolate UK as completely as possible.” It stated that the Department had already been in touch with the Embassy in Ottawa in an effort to persuade the Canadian Government to support Proposal A and instructed the missions receiving the telegram to approach the respective governments “at highest level likely produce satisfactory results,” informing them of the importance that the United States attached to the multilateral trade control issue and urging them to support Proposal A. (Ibid., 493.009/5–2357)