Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Ambassador of Peru Fernando Berckemeyer, and Mr. Dorr

S UNCLASSIFIEI 5485 DEPARTMENT OF STATE = SERVICK 167 Memorandum of Conversation DATE: May 15, 1952 SUBJECT: Proposed Duty on Tunafish Imports PARTICIPANTS: Ambassador Ternando Berckemeyer, Peruvian Embassy S - Mr. Acheson OSA - Mr. Dorr COPIES TO: CP - Mr. Corse AR - Nr. Cale American Embessy, Lima u. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16-61120-1 Ambassador Berckeuerer called, at his request, to protest re- garding the legislation now pending in the Senate which would establish a temporary duty of three cents per pound on fresh or frozen tuna imports pending a study of the competitive position of the U.S. industry. The Ambassador first stated that the President and Foreign Minister of Peru both sent their sincere thanks to ne for the clear and vigorous statement I made at my press conference yesterday regarding the pending legislation. I expressed my pleasure on receiving this message and asiced the Ambassador to convey my thanks to the President and the Foreign Minister. The Ambassador then remarked that his government was seriously concerned about the effect the proposed duty would have on the Peruvian fishing industry. Stating that the industry is the fifth in importance in Peru with a substantial investment of both Peruvian and American capital. the Ambassador feared that a duty here, the principal market, would cause considerable unemployment and unrest. He emphasized the social unrest likely to be caused. I told the Ambassador that I could not argue with him as I under- stood. his point of view and was sympathetic to it. I told him that we too vere seriously concerned with this legislation and were doing what UNCLASSIFIED