Office of the Historian

96. Memorandum of Conversation0

Washington, March 9, 1960.

SUBJECT

  • MFN Treatment for Poland

PARTICIPANTS

  • Dr. Tadeusz Lychowski, Economic Minister, Polish Embassy
  • Dr. Marian Dobrosielski, Counselor of Polish Embassy
  • EE—Albert W. Sherer, Jr.
  • EE—Richard E. Johnson

At luncheon today Dr. Lychowski reiterated arguments presented by the Embassy earlier (see EE memorandum of conversation with Dr. Dobrosielski and Professor Iwaszkiewicz, March 2, 1960, subject: Current Polish Problems)1 in favor of the immediate extension of most favored [Page 268] nation treatment to Poland. Dr. Lychowski took issue with Mr. Sherer’s statement that the Department has always regarded the signing of a claims agreement as a necessary antecedent to the extension of MFN treatment. He claimed that ?–Mr. Beale had stated in the course of talks in May 1959 that MFN treatment would be extended as soon as “substantial progress” was attained in the claims negotiations underway in Warsaw, i.e., when a lump sum was agreed upon.2

Mr. Sherer expressed regret that such a misunderstanding has arisen, but reiterated that the Department has always anticipated that the actual signing of a claims agreement would precede the extension of MFN treatment.

Dr. Lychowski indicated that he intends to discuss this question with ?–Mr. Adair.3

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 411.4841/3–960. Official Use Only. Drafted by Johnson and initialed by Johnson and Sherer.↩
  2. Not printed. (Ibid., 411.4841/3–260)↩
  3. Beale’s statement has not been found.↩
  4. There is no record of Lychowski taking up this question with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Adair.↩