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183392986
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Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Great Britain Sir Oliver Franks, Willard Thorp, and George W. Perkins
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183392986
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document
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Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Great Britain Sir Oliver Franks, Willard Thorp, and George W. Perkins
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Dean Acheson Papers
Secretary of State Files
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183392986
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26
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1950-12-26
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12
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1950
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4496
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1072
December 26, 1950
Participants: Sir Oliver Franks, British Ambassador
Secretary Acheson
Mr. Perkins
Mr. Thorp
ARCHIVES AND
$ERVICE" RECORDE 'NATIONAL
Copies to:
s/s
ITP - Mr. Leddy
The Ambassador presented a new note from the Prime Minister to the
President concerning the proposed raw materials organization. In dis-
cussing it, the Ambassador spent some time in describing the importance
of raw materials to the British economy, suggesting that evidence of
effective dealing with the problem would help substantially in creating
the atmosphere necessary to increase the military preparedness effort.
He emphasized the difficulties in effective operation through a large
group. Furthermore, he suggested that since this probably was a transi-
tional stage it was well to leave room for expansion rather than to
start on an enlarged base.
Mr. Thorp outlined the history of the controversy and the basis on
which the United States took such a strong view as to the need for a
larger group at this time, namely, that efforts by the three to direct
developments in the raw materials field would lead to less rather than
more cooperation on the part of the producing countries. He pointed out
that the argument that a small group was essential for effectiveness did
not seem consistent with the notion that its functions would be limited,
as described in the Prime Minister's note. The *effectiveness* would
have to be achieved through supplementary activities by our own repre-
sentatives. If it were done by the central body, it would clearly dis-
courage the voluntary cooperation upon which the scheme is compelled to
rest under present conditions.
There was considerable discussion concerning the character of the
proposed commodity groups, and it was generally agreed that the proposed
machinery was limited in its possible effectiveness. The Ambassador
suggested that the key form of control was in shipping and that it might
be possible to do something in this field at the present time. It was
generally agreed that it would be necessary for the American and British
members to work closely together in order to achieve as much as possible
through the proposed machinery.
Willard L. Thorp
E:WLThorp:imc