Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, China and Japan, Volume XIV, Part 1

740.5/12–552: Telegram

No. 61
The Special Representative in Europe (Draper) to the Department of State¹

secret

Paris, December 5, 1952—10 p.m.

Polto 910. Excon. As result considered estimate impact on PC’s, Wash China Comite² statement as amended Topol 494³ amplified in terms increased emphasis on special nature China problem and greater specificity as to action program, and presented to CHINCOM Dec 4 in two parts.

First by Ludden⁴ constituted broad policy statement embracing the language of Para 2 reftel⁵ together with emphasis on China’s economic, mil and ideological ties with USSR and expression view that Korea is only current manifestation China’s aggressive, expansionist design constituting especially urgent situation. China trade control problems special because of China’s size and geographic position, possession of important resources, powerful military force, population, ties to USSR. However, undeveloped in number of listed respects, hence more dependent on imports than rest of bloc for mil and mil-support goods.

Korean armistice wld not end CHINCOM problems, and free world countries wld need continue avoid contributing development China strength until fundamental change aggressive, expansionist designs correctly indicated.

Special practical conditions of China control problem are smuggling, export control evasion techniques of Chinese procurement complex, Hong Kong and Macao transshipment situation, control situation in other FE areas, maritime shipping problem.

Second statement by Berger⁶ referred to past coverage by COCOM indicating special China factors require evaluation suitability existing controls, data. Suggested development pool info special aspects China situation in terms general background, commodity usages, appliability of specific measures.

Suggested parallel lines of action, one to collect analyze info as guide for operation comite, other to consider specific measures at once. Following steps suggested:

(1) Receive, consider early views other PC’s re US statement;

(2) Schedule early consideration of pooling analyzing basic info;

(3) Invite PC’s advise of specific interest Chinese traders in specific commodities;

(4) Examine pending COCOM matters of China interest for scheduling early CHINCOM consideration;

(5) Consider statistical reporting review;

(6) Review applicability current anti-diversion measures to China trade.

Statements sent Dept under translip C–1 December 5.

Draper

1. Responsibility for U.S. participation in the Consultative Group and its subsidiary bodies was shifted on Nov. 1 from the Embassy in Paris to the Special Representative in Europe.
2. The China Committee (CHINCOM) was a permanent working group of the Consultative Group, established by COCOM pursuant to a Consultative Group directive of Sept. 19. It was responsible for the development and implementation of the detailed aspects of security export control policy relating to China (defined to include Communist China and North Korea) as laid down by the Consultative Group. All governments of the Consultative Group were entitled to participate fully in the Committee’s decisions with respect to issues in which they considered they had an interest, but Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States were to be permanently represented and to initiate the work of the Committee. The Consultative Group directive was transmitted to the Department under cover of despatch 588 from Paris, Sept. 19. (460.509/9–1952) The establishment of the China Committee had been recommended to the Consultative Group by Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States following a meeting in Washington July 28–Aug. 2; for documentation, see Documents 584 ff. The China Committee held its first meeting on Nov. 29.
3. Topol 494 to Paris, Dec. 2, transmitted changes in a draft statement previously sent to Paris for use as the initial U.S. statement in the China Committee. (740.5/12–252)
4. Raymond P. Ludden, Counselor of Embassy at Paris, was the Resident U.S. Delegate to the Consultative Group.
5. Paragraph 2 of Topol 494 included several minor changes and the following sentence: “I should like to take this opportunity assure you we enter this endeavor prepared to state our views from facts as we jointly ascertain and analyze them, realizing, of course, that we are here to consider those restrictive measures which will best serve our common security objectives.”
6. Milton Berger of the Office of International Trade, Commerce Department, was the U.S. Delegate to the China Committee.