Dear Mr. Heeney,

LONDON MEETINGS, SEPTEMBER OCTOBER, 1950

You will remember that I left with you on 21st July a Memorandumt on suggested meetings in London this fall, in paragraph 6 of which the proposal was made that there might be a meeting of Commonwealth Ministers concerned with economic and trade questions, in London, at some convenient date between the Paris meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the London meeting of the Commonwealth Consultative Committee on South East Asia.

2. It is expected that the Paris meetings will end on 16th September and, as you know, it has been suggested that the Consultative Committee should meet in London on 25th September. The week beginning 18th September would accordingly provide the opportunity for discussions between Commonwealth Ministers on economic and trade questions. In case it would assist the Canadian Government, I have been asked to inform you of the sort of subjects which the United Kingdom Government envisage. might be covered in any such general talks. These are as follows:

(1) Consideration of longer term relationships between dollar area and sterling area including the discussion of a forward policy on imports from the dollar area and of the implications of any possible approach towards general non discrimination and convertibility.

(2) The major economic implications for the Commonwealth and the sterling area of developments in international situation and in particular of programmes of re armament.

(3) General trade questions as follows:

(a) Progress report on Commonwealth co operation in the trade field, with special reference to dollar saving, and on plans for increasing availabilities of goods in short supply.

(b) International trade policy with relation to the Havana Charter, (G.A.T.T.), and the position of Japan.

(c) Account of trade developments in certain European integration schemes. (d) Commercial treaty policy, with special reference to United States proposals.

In passing these suggestions to you, I have been asked to enquire whether an Agenda on these lines would commend itself to the Canadian Government. The United Kingdom Government, for their part, would welcome any suggestions as to further subjects which might be considered at the same time.

3. In the Memorandum of 21st July, it was suggested that perhaps two days might be allowed for the suggested discussion of general economic and trade questions. On further consideration it is thought that, if the Agenda tentatively suggested above were adopted, the discussions might occupy perhaps three or four days, but this is a point on which the views of the Canadian Government would also be welcomed.

4. Other Commonwealth Governments are similarly being consulted and an invitation to be represented is also being sent to the Government of Southern Rhodesia.'

Yours sincerely,

G.'B. SHANNON

²²Note marginale:/Marginal note:

Spoke to Mr. Reid. Agreed that this and other related documents should be circulated to Interdepartmental Committee on E[xternal] T[rade] P[olicy] for consideration at an early meeting. A.F.W. P[lumptre].

²³ Note marginale:/Marginal note: Left with me by Mr. Shannon, 4.00 pm, Aug[ust] 14.1 have sent the carbon copy to the Minister. E. R[eid] Aug. 14/50.