Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Foreign Aid and Economic Defense Policy, Volume X

193. Memorandum of Conversations, Department of State, Washington, December 30 and 31, 1957¹

Washington, December 30 and 31, 1957

SUBJECT

• U.S. Proposal for Consultative Group Meeting

PARTICIPANTS

• Signor Giuseppe De Rege, Counselor, Embassy of Italy
• Mr. R.G.C. Smith, Commercial Minister, Embassy of Canada
• Mr. Josef Reufels, Economic Secretary, German Embassy
• Mr. Pierre Landy, Counselor, Embassy of the French Republic
• Mr. Haishiro Ogawa, Counselor, Embassy of Japan
• Mr. Takeshi Kanematsu, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan

The above-named officers of the Embassies of France, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan at Washington called separately on Mr. Armstrong at his request, and were informed that the United States Government believes that a Consultative Group meeting should be held sometime in February to undertake a general reexamination of the entire multilateral security trade control program. Mr. Armstrong said that this proposal was consistent with the French initiative in suggesting an early list review in COCOM, but we believed that a more comprehensive examination of all elements of the control system by the Consultative Group would more nearly respond to the needs of the situation.

Details of United States proposals would be communicated to the participating countries sufficiently in advance of the meeting to allow careful study and preparation of views. The question of transmitting these detailed proposals, whether bilaterally, or multilaterally in COCOM or by some other means, has not yet been decided.

The foreign diplomats all welcomed the proposal for a Consultative Group meeting. Several of the officers inquired whether the United States intends to propose the abolition of List II, to which Mr. Armstrong replied that the annual review of List II quotas has been an element of discord, and we might have some ideas to propose on this subject. The Canadian officer inquired whether the United States intends to take any specific action with respect to China during the meeting, to which Mr. Armstrong replied negatively, although pointing out that any vulnerability of the bloc arising out of purely Chinese circumstances should be exploited. The Italian officer commented, noting that his remark should not be given official standing, that he had the impression that his Government believed that the COCOM participating countries should be cautious in proceeding to any major revision of the International Lists.

The Japanese officers asked several pointed questions with respect to timing, relating these questions to the attitudes of other countries, as for example, France. They also asked about the level of the U.S. representation, and inquired about U.S. expectations as to the degree of technical support required for our delegation, indicating that they rather anticipated protracted negotiations at some stage of the talks.

The Japanese officers then developed a line of questioning relating to the possibility of expanded U.S.-Russian trade. It finally appeared that this reflected a Japanese Foreign Office instruction which quoted a “Paris Journal” article signed by Jacqueline Gunkovaty. The item, as reported by the Japanese officers, stated that Russian Ambassador Zarubin had gained the impression during the course of conversations with Ambassador W.S.B. Lacy that the United States was actively interested in increasing trade with Russia. Zarubin had therefore recommended that his successor be a trade specialist. Mr. Armstrong commented that this was an interesting bit of press speculation.

The next question was whether or not U.S.–U.K. consultations were underway on this subject, to which Mr. Armstrong replied that all COCOM participating countries, including the United Kingdom, were being informed of our proposals at the same time.²

[Attachment]

Washington, December 30, 1957.

AIDE-MÉMOIRE³

The Embassy of is informed that the Government of the United States has recently been reviewing the multilateral trade control program in the light of current developments in the international scene. This review suggests the desirability of a general reexamination of the international controls for the purpose of making them as effective as possible. For its part, the United States will shortly be prepared to outline to other governments proposals which will deal comprehensively with all elements of the control system. Illustratively, the United States is considering possible clarification of criteria, a re-examination of the International Lists including consideration of the reduction or elimination of quantitative controls, and a revision of certain of the control procedures to simplify their application.

The United States has noted that other participating governments have also expressed the view that a re-examination of the controls would be timely. The French Delegate has proposed that on January 3, 1958 COCOM set a date for beginning a revision of the embargo list. Since it is considered that such a review should not be approached on a partial basis in COCOM without consideration of other aspects of the multilateral controls, the United States will propose that the Consultative Group undertake a comprehensive review of the controls along the lines indicated above. The United States considers that such a meeting might be scheduled in February 1958. This Government’s proposals will be communicated in detail to the participating governments sufficiently in advance of a Consultative Group meeting to permit their examination prior to multilateral discussion. It is hoped that other participating governments will support the United States suggestion for a full review of the multilateral controls in the Consultative Group and will concur with the proposed timing of a meeting of this Group.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 460.509/12–3157. Confidential. Drafted by D. Henderson of OR.
2. Representatives of the Embassies of Norway, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark were also presented with the U.S. aide-mémoire on December 30 and 31. A memorandum of those conversations, drafted by Wright, is ibid.
3. A copy of this aide-mémoire was transmitted to the Embassies in each of the Participating Countries in circular telegram 568, December 30. (Ibid., 460.509/12–3057)