While I am not particularly hopeful of obtaining any tangible result from
this note I felt that it was necessary in the protection of American
interests to go on record at this time.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[Enclosure]
The American Minister (Stetson) to the Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Zaleski)
Warsaw, June 24,
1927.
No. 755
Excellency: I have the honor to address
myself to Your Excellency with the request that the Polish
Government examine carefully the situation actually existing
regarding the importation of American automobiles into Poland, with
a view to finding a solution more satisfactory to the requirements
of American manufacturers.
My understanding is as follows: When the Polish Government decided,
in the autumn of 1925, to introduce contingents, stating at [Page 610] that time that they
considered this a temporary measure, contingents of fixed amounts
for the importation of automobiles were then or later granted to
certain governments, while an unallocated amount was set aside as a
contingent for all other governments. Since then, as separate
requests for import licenses for automobiles were made to the Polish
Government, they were considered separately, and granted or not
granted, according to a theory which I am unable to understand
because there has not come to my knowledge the facts and figures
touching upon the procedure followed by the Polish Government for
the granting of contingents for automobiles.
I respectfully submit for Your Excellency’s consideration that it is
scarcely just that manufacturers of the United States, which is par excellence the country of automotive
industry, should in this way be treated in a less cordial and less
equitable manner than manufacturers of other countries, more
especially in view of the Modus Vivendi of
February 10, 1925,4 by which the American and Polish
Governments agreed to accord to merchandise manufactured in the two
countries equitable treatment, as expressed in the most favored
nation clause.
The representatives of certain American makes of cars in Poland state
that they are losing business every day because they are unable to
obtain permits for import. They have few or no cars in their
warehouses or showrooms. Nevertheless, certain foreign manufacturers
have cars in stock but a smaller demand for them. The result is a
distinct injustice to American manufacturers, because the freedom of
competition is taken from them by the general situation existing
here. I ask no special favors for American cars. I desire only that
the Polish customer should have the opportunity to exercise his
choice under conditions of freedom and equality.
In view of the present conditions, I urgently request that the Polish
Government accord to American manufacturers a contingent for
automobiles as generous as is warranted by the importance of the
United States as the center of the automotive industry of the world,
and by the treatments accorded by the Polish Government to other
countries manufacturing automobiles.
As the sale of automobiles is largely dependent on the season of the
year, the question is urgent or it will be impossible for American
manufacturers to take advantage of the demand which is greatest in
spring and summer and almost disappears in autumn and winter. I
therefore solicit Your Excellency’s good offices with a view to
receiving as prompt a reply as possible. Moreover, in view of the
practice of my Government in making public all facts regarding the
importation or exportation of merchandise to and from its
territories, I should greatly appreciate it if Your Excellency could
find it convenient [Page 611] to
supply me with the rules and regulations in force in Poland
regarding the granting of contingents.
Accept [etc.]
