Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Secretary of Agriculture Charles Brannan

SECRET 910915 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 302 311 Memorandum of Conversation (Telephone) DATE: March 31, 1950 SUBJECT: Listing of Wool and Cheese in Torguay Negotiations PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary Mr. Brannan - Secretary of Agriculture COPIES TO: S/S - E - Mr. Schaetzel CP - Mr. Corse BNA - Mr. Levy-Hawes and E - Miss Brewster 1-1493 I called Mr. Brannan and told him that I had received his letter stating Agriculture's objection to the listing of wool and cheese. I explained to Mr. Brannan that I, of course, could not change the Trade Agreements Committee's recommendations, since it was a Committee established by Executive Order and which reported directly to the President. I went on to say that I and the Department felt strongly that wool should be listed because it would not be possible to have any negotiation with Australia, and consequently with the Commonwealth, if wool were not included, since it was the principal export of Australia. I pointed out that the fact that we were not able to admit any Australian butter to this country made the listing of wool double im- portant. I also said I understood the world price of wool to be still substantially in excess of the support price. Mr. Brannan said he thought then the best thing to do was to send down his dissent. I said I would do so and would see that the President knew that Mr. Brannan personally had signed it. Mr. Brannan said, "you might as well send down the memorandum on cheese also", and I said I would. DECLASSIFIED I then E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (R) 2.29.76 Dept. of State letter, BECRET By NLT- HC NARS Date 6-4-96