File No. 103.96/1245
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France ( Sharp)
5976. For McFadden [from War Trade Board]:
No. 394. Your 476, Embassy’s 5306, October 4, 12 noon,1 and your 443, Embassy 5175, September 23, 11 p.m.1 We approve in substance of the plan of September 7 accompanying your letter of September 11 for black list for Switzerland, as modified to meet objections of French.1 We do not, however, favor the presentation of a joint note to the Swiss on this subject, believing that representations with respect to the black list should be kept informal. The substance of the note should therefore, in so far as United States is concerned, be orally presented. Of course, it is to be kept clear, as matter of record, that the War Trade Board bases its black list upon the recommendations of its own representative and is not bound by the decision of the Paris or Berne committees.