971.40/11–1554
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Diplomatic Agent at Tangier (Satterthwaite)1
Participants:
- M. François de Panafieu, French Minister
- J. C. Satterthwaite, American Minister
Subject:
- Draft Radio Ordinance
When M. de Panafieu came this morning to make his farewell call, I showed him the letter concerning our draft Radio Ordinance2 which I am sending him. After he had read it, I remarked that I understood that his Government had had in the past some reservations about the propriety of the appointment of an American to a position of importance in the Administration as long as we did not adhere to the Statute. I said that while we could understand this, I was sure he would appreciate that the appointment of a Director of Radio Communications was the first step toward possible American adherence to the Statute. Once we had completed the Radio Ordinance, there would then remain only a few small details to negotiate before we could accept the jurisdiction of the International Tribunal in mixed cases. After that, I felt that my Government would be willing to consider adherence to the present Statute or to join in the negotiation of a new one.
I realized, I continued, why it might seem strange for the United States to play an active role in the Committee of Control as long as we did not adhere to the Statute. Nevertheless, we had been invited to do so by the French and the British Governments and therefore felt that we had a perfect right to have an American official in the International Administration. I hoped, therefore, it would be possible for him to give his valuable support in Paris to our proposals.
Our draft was, of course, subject to negotiation but I hoped very much that its principles would be accepted by his Government. I could assure him that it was our intention to protect the radio interests of the French Government, which were of next greatest importance here after ours. The acceptance of the proposed Ordinance would be a protection to both our Governments against the possible use of the International Zone by the Soviet Government for the establishment of a radio station. The Ordinance would protect the present interests of all of the governments here and would give us the means of controlling the establishment of any future stations. Without such protection, the Soviet Government might well come in here and disrupt all our present facilities.
M. de Panafieu said he agreed entirely with what I had said and had realized on reading our note that the appointment of an American [Page 230] official might well be the first step toward the adherence of the United States to the Statute. He said he would be very glad indeed to support our proposals in Paris.