82. Editorial Note
The White House announced on September 22 that President Eisenhower had decided to restrict lead and zinc imports into the United States. In identical letters to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Byrd and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Mills, the President explained, “I recognize that the imposition of quotas is an unusual step, but it is better suited than a tariff increase to the unique circumstances of the case and more likely to lead to enduring solutions beneficial to the entire lead and zinc industry.”
[Page 184]Proclamation No. 3257 outlined the specific steps to be taken. For text of the announcement, issued at Newport, Rhode Island, where the President was on a working vacation, see Department of State Bulletin, October 13, 1958, pages 579–580. For text of Proclamation No. 3257 and Eisenhower’s letter, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1958, pages 1496–1501.
Foreign reaction to the U.S. announcement was generally negative, particularly in Peru. Ambassador Achilles reported that the Peruvian response ranged “from strong to violent” and that this “issue is one of very few on which all political parties seem be in agreement.” (Telegram 174 from Lima, September 24; Department of State, Central Files, 411.004/9–2458) Two days later, he warned “there will be long lasting damage to US national interest unless present climate is quickly changed.” (Telegram 182 from Lima, September 26; ibid., 411.006/9–2658)
Although Australian aversion to the U.S. action was less intense (telegrams 113 and 117 from Canberra, September 24 and 26; ibid., 411.006/9–2458 and 411.006/9–2658), Eisenhower wrote to Prime Minister Menzies on September 29 to assure him of U.S. willingness to discuss other solutions to the lead and zinc problem. (Telegram 101 to Canberra; ibid., 411.006/9–2958) Additional documentation on the quotas’ international repercussions, which continued into late November, are ibid., 411.006 and 394.41.