July 22, 1949
DEPARTMENT OF STATE Memorandum of Conversation
SUBJECT: Possible Withdrawal of Sugar Concession to the Dominican Republic at Annecy
PARTICIPANTS: Secretary of State Sr. D. Luis Francisco Thomen, Dominican Ambassador
COPIES TO: ARA ITP - Mr. Brown & Miss Williams CP - Mr. Woolf United States Delegation, Annecy AmEmbassy, Ciudad Trujillo (informally)
The Dominican Ambassador called at his request and stated he had been instructed to inform me of the deep concern with which his government regards the proposed withdrawal of the preliminary offer to the Dominican Republic for a reduction in the United States tariff on sugar. The Ambassador stated that although this tariff reduction alone would not increase the amount of Dominican sugar entering the United States, his government attributes great importance to the maintenance of the preliminary offer for two reasons: (1) it would be a first step towards the ultimate removal of preferences by the United States and the eventual establishment of equal treatment for all foreign sugar entering the United States, and (2) it would be a diplomatic defeat for the Dominican Republic were the offer to be withdrawn because it has become publicly known that the offer was made and that the government of Cuba has protested. The Ambassador referred to in this connection to official statements by the Unites States government regarding the desirability of equal treatment and the end of preferences in international trade.
The Ambassador left with me a copy of a memorandum recently delivered to the United States delegation at Annecy by the Dominican delegation setting forth in detail the Dominican position on this matter. He also requested that, if possible, he be informed in advance should the ultimate decision be to withdraw the offer, in order that he might submit a memorandum on this matter in the name of the Embassy.
I told the Ambassador that I would consult with Assistant Secretary Miller and others in the Department and that we would give this matter very careful consideration.
ARA:CRB:CCHauch:deb 7/25/49