Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1998. [Vol. 5.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 25)
Studies - Tamás Magyarics: From the Rollback of Communism to Building Bridges: The U.S. and the Soviet Block Countries from the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 to the Prague Spring in 1968
suggest ways to revive the East-West trade relations. Lyndon Johnson justified the operation of the committee by declaring in his message to Congress on February 10, 1965 that with a view to improve the balance of payments of the country, the volume of trade should be enhanced. The Miller-committee handed the White House its report on April 29. Its major recommendations and findings were as follows: "... 12. There is little doubt that the East European Communist countries are interested in purchasing more from the U.S. than they do now — principally machinery, equipment, complete plants, and technical data. This advanced technology could provide the U.S. with some of its most effective bargaining leverage for trade negotiations with Communist countries. ... 13. If we relaxed some of our restrictions, purchases from European Communist countries from the U.S. would probably rise in the short term. But their lack of foreign exchange would soon limit trade. In this sense, foreign exchange, rather than present U.S. export controls, is the major limitation on the potential for this trade. ... 14. The Committee has seen various estimates of our possible exports to the USSR and Eastern Europe over the next decade; none suggests that this trade could constitute a significant part of our total trade ... Whenever possible, we should use such /trade/ negotiations to gain agreements or understandings on such matters as library and information facilities, embassy quarters, the establishment of consulates, the jamming of broadcasts, the distribution of Government and other publications, and the initiation or expansion of cultural and technical exchanges ... 24. Trade with the U.S. should put pressure on Communist countries to move away from the rigid bilateralism ... it should encourage them to become more heavily engaged in the network of world trade and committed to the Western practices ... 25. U.S. aims in these negotiations must be political: we seek to encourage moves toward the external independence and internal liberalization of individual Communist countries. We are not interested in fostering animosities among European Communist nations. ... 36. Apart from the commercial risks, it is important to recognize that long-term credits could run counter to the central purpose of this trade and reduce its potential political benefits." 3 6 The Report was accepted by each of the 12-member committee, except for Nathaniel Goldfinger, the Director of Research of the AFL-CIO. The 3 6 DSB. Vol. LIV. No. 1405. May 30. 1966. 855. 83
