881.00/1153
The Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Tangier (Blake) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 12.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith cuttings from the issues of September 22nd and 23rd 1925 of the Presse Marocaine20 a daily paper published in Casablanca, Morocco, reflecting upon an action attributed to the Department of State, in regard to the American aviators, serving with the French forces operating against the Riff.
The appearance of these comments in the local press came as a complete surprise to me, in view of the fact that, upon receipt of the Department’s telegram No. 9 of September 5th, 1925, I decided, after careful consideration, to refrain from giving effect to the discretionary instructions transmitted. It appeared to me, under the circumstances, that the harm which had been done, might rather be rectified by the silence, which was gathering over the waning glamour, with which the French Authorities had sought to surround the co-operation of the American aviators.
. . . . . . .
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩