560.AL/5–2649: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chairman of the United States Delegation (Willoughby), at Annecy
141. View your continued insistence virtual impossibility effective postponement MFN Japan until end session Dept willing have item withdrawn agenda rather than face sharp defeat. Meeting today between Army and Dept reached agreement this point on understanding strong and immediate efforts be made by other means toward same end. This will likely be bilateral negotiations key capitals and perhaps continuing informal discussions Annecy. Will info later. Aide-mémoire going ahead, omitting reference Annecy session.1
In withdrawing item statement2 should be made including following points.
1. Withdrawal definitely not to be interpreted as diminution major importance US attaches to objective.
2. Withdrawal primarily due technical difficulties result pressure finish substantive discussions agenda items immediate future.
3. US anxious fullest cooperation all governments this objective which it considers so eminently reasonable and in line commercial policy principles all CP’s have espoused. Accordingly intends continue to encourage strongly other governments make the desired assurances for the period US financially supporting Jap program.
- For the text, see p. 694. The aide-mémoire was not presented to the British Embassy until June 17.↩
- The U.S. Delegation Chairman’s letter to the Conference Chairman withdrawing from the agenda the item “most-favoured-nation treatment for occupied areas” is printed in GATT Doc. GATT/CP.3/41, 9 June 1949 (Annecy Conference File, Lot 57D284, Box 110).↩