Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, General; the United Nations, Volume I

560.A.L./8–546: Circular telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Officers ⁸⁶

confidential

Washington, August 5, 1946–noon.

Depcirtel July 23 11 a.m. and previous. Dept considers present favorable time to add Chile, Lebanon and Norway to nuclear group originally invited by US to participate in trade-barrier negotiations. Addition these three will place all members of Preparatory Committee named by ECOSOC on same footing and thus avoid confusion and invidious distinctions created by continued exclusion three members of Prep Committee from major aspect of preparations for world trade conference.

While US responsible for issuance original invitations and must therefore also take responsibility for inviting three new members, US cannot properly proceed wholly on own initiative since, in view multilateral nature of agreement contemplated, invitation and acceptance thereof necessarily involve trade-barrier negotiations not only between three new members and US but also between former and each other nuclear country.

In order pave way for US action, please inform Govt to which you are accredited that in accordance with spirit of ECOSOC resolution adding Chile, Lebanon and Norway to original group, US now proposes extension these countries invitation negotiate trade barriers on same basis as nuclear group, that it is proposed issue such invitations on or about Aug 15, and that it is assumed Govt to which you are accredited would have no objection proposed invitations in view earlier action of ECOSOC.

Please inform Dept by Aug 13 of any reaction to foregoing.⁸⁷

Dept aware that invitation to Lebanon will entail negotiation with Lebanese-Syrian Customs Union which may affect form of invitation in this case.

Acheson

86. Sent to the 15 United States missions accredited to the “nuclear” governments invited by the United States in December, 1945 to attend a preliminary conference in preparation for the general conference on trade and employment.

87. A generally favorable reaction was contained in replies a majority of which had been received by August 15. (These are found in the 560.AL File.) The London Embassy reported in telegram 7426, August 13, that “Embassy informed today by Foreign Office that British Government agreeable to adding Norway, Chile and Lebanon to nuclear group (Depcirtel August 5, Noon). While agreeing to this action Foreign Office notes that it has certain objections to enlarging nuclear group. These objections relate principally to original understanding that nuclear group should consist of countries having major share in world trade.” (560.AL/8–1346)

    Telegraphic instructions were sent to the United States missions at Oslo, Beirut, and Santiago on August 19 authorizing them to transmit invitations to the governments to which they were accredited. Chile accepted the extended invitation on August 27, Norway on September 11, and Lebanon on October 2.

    The Department of State announced on October 14 that the invitations had been extended and accepted; for text of release, see Department of State Bulletin, October 27, 1946, p. 754. The missions at the three concerned capitals were sent advance texts of the announcement in a circular telegram of October 9, 5 p.m. (560.AL/10–946).