Office of the Historian

946G.53/7–850: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State

secret
London, July 8, 1950—2 p. m.

159. Holmes1 saw Younger, Minister of State of Foreign Office July 7 in absence Bevin2 and stressed:

1.
Urgency reaching decision ministerial level on basic British policy re strategic export controls in order permit consultative bodies Paris function more effectively than in past re all aspects problem.
2.
Importance of ensuring export controls Hong Kong and Singapore [Page 644] over strategic items for Communist China are promptly and effectively carried out.

Younger promised see what could be done expedite ministerial consideration. Re China trade, indicated authority control exports had been given to Hong Kong and Singapore, but indicated British faced problem of implementing controls “unobtrusively” in view situation in Hong Kong and relations with Communist China.

Aide-mémoires on both points left at Foreign Office. Copies being sent air despatch addresses this telegram.3

Sent Department 159; repeated info Paris 54, The Hague 7, Brussels 7.

Douglas
  1. Julius C. Holmes, Minister at the Embassy in London.↩
  2. Ernest Bevin, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩
  3. Not printed.↩