FOREIGN ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL POLICY


394;31/9-i4O0
   The Ambassador of the Union of South Africa (Jooste) to the
                         Secretary of State

                                  WASHINGTON, 14th September, 1950.
   The Ambassador of the Union of South Africa presents hiscompli-
 ments to the Honourable the Secretary of State, and has the honour to
 refer to the discussions which took place at the Third and Fourth
 Sessions of the Contracting Parties to the General Agreement on
 Tariffs and Trade concerning the South African programme of im-
 port restrictions and the difference of point of view which emerged
 between the South African and United States Delegations on the
 question of the compatibility of the South African Government's
 action with the provisions of Article XII and Annexure J. of th6
 General Agreement.'
   The Government of the Union of South Africa believe that the
 differences which have arisen between the Delegations on this issue
 are not conducive to the mutual interests of the United States and
 the Union of South Africa, nor to the harmonious and fruitful collabo-
 ration between the Contracting Parties. The South African Govern-
 ment, therefore, are anxious that, if at all possible, these differences
 should be avoided at the Fifth Session of the Contracting Parties
 which is due to commence at Torquay on the 2nd November.'
   After further careful consideration of the major objections which
 have hitherto been raised by the Delegation of the United States with
 regard to the discriminatory aspects of the South African programme
 of import restrictions, the Government of the Union of South Africa
 have decided to introduce certain important changes in that pro-
 gramme as from the 1st January, 1951. Details of these changes are set
 forth in the 'accompanying memorandum to the Contracting Parties
 to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which will be sent to
 the G.A.T.T. Secretariat at Geneva for distribution on the 15th Sep-
 tember, 1950.2
 At Habana, Cuba, on March 24, 1948, at the conclusion of the conference
for
 the establishment of an international trade organization, the Contracting
Parties
 of the General Agreement (GATT) concluded a Special Protocol which modified
 Article XIV "of GATT ("Exceptions to the Rule of Non-Discrimination")
and
 added to the annexes (A through I) of the original agreement an Annex J
with
an "Interpretative Note" on Article XIV (62 Stat. (pt. 2) 2000,
or TIAS No.
1764). For documentation regarding this 1948 action on Annex J, see Foreign
Relations, 1948, vol. i, Part 2, p. 905.
  "Not attached to file copy; neither has it been found in the conference
file
(Lot 57D284). It is described in NAG Doe. No. 1054, October 13, 1950, infra.


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