Office of the Historian

264. National Security Action Memorandum No. 2240

Washington, March 4, 1963.

MEMORANDUM FOR

  • The Secretary of Defense
  • The Secretary of the Treasury
  • The Secretary of Agriculture
  • The Secretary of the Interior
  • The Secretary of Commerce
  • The Secretary of Labor
  • Governor Herter (for information)
  • The Secretary of State (for information)

SUBJECT

  • Coordination of U.S. Efforts Under the Trade Relations Act
1.

We are engaged in major activities of a military, financial, trade and diplomatic nature centering on the European countries, in addition to carrying on a large volume of more routine discussions and negotiations with them. In particular, and of high importance, we are already preparing for our first round of negotiations under the Trade Expansion Act.

While the Secretary of State has the primary responsibility for the conduct of foreign policy, all of you are involved in one way or another in aspects of our relations with Europe. I think it is necessary that all our relations with Europe be conducted in a unified way and related to a central strategy aimed at the advancement of U.S. interests.

Governor Herter is charged with conducting the trade negotiations and related trade matters. The success of these negotiations, given their scope and implications for the future, is of the highest importance. Since many aspects of policy for which each of you has some responsibility bear on our trade relations and hence the trade negotiations, it is particularly important that these activities be coordinated with those for which Governor Herter has responsibility.

2.
In accordance with the responsibilities of the Secretary of State, he should be the point of coordination for all important statements and actions bearing on relations with Europe. I have asked the Under Secretary to assume responsibility for this function in behalf of the Secretary of State, and I should like you to make suitable arrangements to keep him informed of your activities in this area, and for getting his views as to [Page 570] how they fit into our total foreign policy efforts. I have asked Carl Kaysen of my staff to be in touch with the Under Secretary to keep me informed on these matters. In this way I hope to assure that the many issues of policy involved in the totality of our relations with Europe will be properly coordinated in order to insure that the trade negotiations will proceed, with the best prospect for their success.
John F. Kennedy1
  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Subjects Series, Trade Policy, Trade Expansion Act, March 16, 1963-April 30, 1963. Confidential.↩
  2. Printed from a copy that indicates Kennedy signed the original.↩