Office of the Historian

19. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom0

Washington, October 17, 1961, 12:03 p.m.

2031. For Ambassador Bruce from Ball. I have been seriously disturbed by the impression I have received over the past few weeks that the British do not appear to take seriously our views on the need for ultimate elimination of preferential arrangements as an objective of the UK-EEC negotiations. Heath’s statement in Paris reinforces this concern. I shall shortly be sending a personal letter to Ted Heath1 regarding some of our views.

I hope that in the meantime, however, you would do what you can to impress upon the top levels of the UK Govt the importance we attach to arrangements coming out of these negotiations which protect the interests of all third countries whether Commonwealth or non-Commonwealth and on a non-preferential basis.

I will send letter through you to give you an opportunity to comment.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 375.800/10–1761. Limited Official Use; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Vine on October 16, cleared with Burdett and Fessenden (B), and approved by Ball. Repeated to Brussels for Butterworth.↩
  2. Not found.↩