CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE EXPORT OF KYLBTRONS TO EASTERN GERMANY MEMORANDUM BY THE UNITED KINGDOM DELEGATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00647A000200040043-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 20, 1998
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: November 12, 1959
• Content Type: MEMO

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CONFIDihUUUTIAL
COCOTil DOCUIiINT 3759
Copy No.
CO -OI DIPATIyiG -,.- IT EL
B1:POIRT OF KLYBTRONS TO AS T:F'1R.I,aG: MMANY
4403003
Memorandum bythe United Kinf ;dom Deler-ati on
1. The United Kingdom Delegation wish to refer to COCOM
Document 3564, a United Kingdom memorandum which sought approval
for the export of 10 Klystrons to service =radio Links KTR1000,
previously supplied to the East German Television service. When
this submission was discussed (COCOT: Doc. 3602) the United Kingdom
Delegation stated (paragraph 2) that:
"The original equipment ,-,,,as exported. from the
United Kingdom at the end of 1956 under the provisions
of Administrative Principle No. 3 and there was there-
fore no contravention of COCOM regulations. This
equipment was at the time on the embargo list. Since
August, 1958, however, it had been possible to export
this equipment under the provisions of Item 1520, which
specifically 'excluded short range and low power links
between a camera or studio and a television transmitter.
There was thus no question of exporting embargoed
equipment to service other embargoed equipment."
2. This statement wac made in the belief that thee- seven
KTR1000 links, for which the Klystrons were required,- were used
for the purpose specified at the time of export licensing in.1956,
viz: "one hop" outside broedeast or ;studio -- to - transmitter
links of the sort excluded from embargo by the redefinition of
Item 1520 adopted in 1958. However, the United Kingdom authorities
have since discovered (as reported for the information of the
Committee in 00COM Doc. 3758) that the Bast German Broadcasting
authorities had these particular links installed for the Berlin-
Schwerin television relay. The use of television links for
"multi-hop " relays puts them, in the United Kingdom's view,
clearly outside the. 1958 e ception from the embargo coverage of
Item 1520.
3. The United Kingdom Delegations thel efore wish to take this
opportunity to apologise to the Committee for having, unwittingly,
given iuucorrect information in relation to the servicing case for
the ten Klystrons.
4. At the same time, the United Kingdom delegation find it
necessary to put before the Co2raittee another exceptions case for=.
the export of a further quantity of Klystrons. This arises
because the United Kingdom exporter who originally supplied the
seven KTR1000 links undertook a servicing agreement to maintain
the equipment in operation. Servicing agreements of this kind are
quite normal where expensive equipment of this nature is involved
and the United Kingdom exporter, in entering such a contract, did
so in good :with and in the belief that there would be no
difficulties in carrying it out. If the company z~,were now to fall
down on this contract not only would it seriously prejudice its
commercial position but it might also face legal proceedings for
/breach
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broach of contract. In such an event, the United Kingdom
authorities' position would be Most embarrassing, since having
in good faith authorised the export of the equipment originally
exported, it would be very difficult to justify refusal of licence:
for spare parts required to maintain the equipment in w1 i ig ordar.
It might also be necessary for H.M. Government to consid?'r its oWrn
legal position vie-a-vie:. the company,
5. Two types of Klystrons are involved, transmitter reflex
type K3L.5 (appronimate value 274 dollars) and receiver ty
K57/85A (approximate value 85 dollars), Both have a rates ilife
of about 500 hours continuous run (or six months operatior%f
not used continuously) but individual Klystrons may fail a er
a much shorter time. The United Kingdom authorities consider that
a reasonable working stock of spare Klystrons for the 7 links in
question would be 12 of each type.
6. In the circumstances,, H,=, Government seek the Committee's
authority, on an ad hoc basis:-
(i) to allow the export of sufficient spare
Klystrons to East Germany to bring the number
available there up to 12 each of transmitter
and receiver Klystrons, taking into account the
export of Klystrons previously authorised by
the Committee (see COCOM Doe. 3602);
to allow the export of replacement Klystrons
as and when used and defective Klystrons are
retuned to United 1dnpdom.
The United Kingdom authorities believe that these arrangements would
meet the legitimate requirements for servicing the television link
equipments in question and would, at the same time, make diversion
to any military use most unlikely. As regards the proposal at (ii)
of this paragraph the United Kingdom Delegation appreciate that
the Committee is generally reluctant to authorise exports on an
as hoc basis unless the number of items is clearly specified in
advance. However, the United Kingdom Delegation believe that, in
the exceptional circumstances of this particular case, and
subject to the special arrangements referred to, which would ensure
that (afte r the export of spares to provide a working stock of
12 transmitter and 12 receiver Klystrons) no net addition was made
to the number of Klystrons available to the East German authorities,
the United Kingdom request is consistent with the Committee's
general principles regarding servicing cases. (It may be noted that
the same Klystrons required to service link equipment which was
freed front embargo in 1958 could be exported under the agreed
de mirilmis servicing procedure up to a value of 1,500 dollars
7i hout prior consultati n in the Committee). If the Committee
rees to the United Kingdom proposal, all exports of Klystrons
.ri der these arranc:.ements would be reported to the Committee in
monthly statistics.
The United Kindom Delegation would be grateful to have the
views of Member Governments by November 30.
United Kingdom Delegation,
Paris.
November 12,
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