881.156/46: Telegram

The Ambassador in France ( Herrick ) to the Secretary of State

445. Department’s instruction number 432, September 21st, 1922. I am now in receipt of a note12 from the Foreign Office in answer to Department’s instruction above referred to, copy of which is transmitted in to-day’s pouch.

In view of the fact that adjudication of the contract for Tangier port works takes place on November 9th it would appear advisable [Page 733] to telegraph a summary of certain portions of this note which is as follows:

Reference is made to article 6 of the Franco-German agreement of 1911 which rendered possible the protectorate treaty which states that the Sultan shall freely choose a concessionaire of important public works. Said provisions have been applied for eleven years in Morocco without protest. The protest of the United States Government against the exercise of his rights by the Sultan to grant a concession for the port of Tangier without authorization of diplomatic corps causes surprise to the French Government which quotes two concessions granted in 1920 without protest (see report number 11, August 15, 1921,12a of diplomatic agent at Tangier (?) enclosure of Department’s instruction to me number 193 February 15, 192213). Reference is also made to the percentages comprising the capital of the Société Internationale stating that the Moroccan Government has requested that the German and Austro–German shares be wholly reserved to French and Moroccan capital which request “appears too fair to be refused” and which is strictly in accordance with the provisions of the treaty of Versailles relative to German relinquishment of the rights in Morocco. In conclusion the French Government expects that the American Legation in Morocco will be instructed to cease its opposition to the concession of the port of Tangier.

Herrick
  1. Dated Oct. 28; not printed.
  2. Not found in Department files.
  3. Not printed.