93. Editorial Note
In a letter to President Eisenhower, dated June 12, covering several topics, Prime Minister Macmillan wrote:
“I must tell you very frankly that I was terribly disappointed at the decision reached on the wool textile tariff. Of course, I realise the pressures of some of your industrial interests. But we have to fight very hard for our exports, because we cannot live without them, and when one of our trades really makes a good show it is pretty disheartening to be cut down in this rough way. I do not know whether this decision is perpetual or whether it could be reversed in due course. It makes me feel very pessimistic about the growth of liberal concepts in the world. If countries with enormous surpluses and vast wealth resort to protection how can we expect countries in difficulties like Britain and France to move towards the freeing of trade.” (Department of State, Presidential Correspondence: Lot 66D 204, Macmillan to Eisenhower, 1957–1958, vol. II)