Office of the Historian

15. National Security Action Memorandum No. 760

Washington, August 21, 1961.

MEMORANDUM FOR

  • Under Secretary of State George Ball

I am concerned about what will be the economic effect upon the United States if England joins the common market. I believe we should have a realistic detailed study made by State. Treasury and the Council of Economic Advisers. I have been informed that the effect will be extremely serious. Could you consider the matter and talk to me about it and suggest what action we should properly take. We have been in the position, of course, of encouraging the expansion of the common market for political reasons. If it should have an extremely adverse effect upon us a good deal of responsibility would be laid upon our doorstep.

JFK
  1. Source: Department of State, NSAMs: Lot 72 D 316, No classification marking. Another copy bears the date August 20. (Ibid.)↩