660c.116/55: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Poland (Stetson)

[Paraphrase]

58. (1) The Department approves suggestions in fourth paragraph of your telegram No. 82 of November 24, 10 a.m. In respect to import contingents for automobiles, you should confine your negotiations with the Polish authorities to cars which are manufactured [Page 623] wholly in the United States. For such cars you should try to obtain a contingent of 320 metric tons per quarter, and in any case a quarterly contingent no smaller than France or any other country may receive.

(2) You may point out, if necessary, that since the Danish Government is of opinion that cars manufactured in Denmark largely from American parts are entitled to Danish certificates of origin, and that since heretofore the Polish Government has itself accepted such cars as Danish, they should be admitted under a Danish contingent.

(3) You may also state, if you think it necessary, that the United States itself regards as Danish, rather than American, the trade in cars assembled in Denmark. But such action should be taken only if the Legation considers it absolutely necessary in obtaining the contingent indicated in the first paragraph above. In any statement, however, regarding trade in the products of assembling plants abroad, you should carefully avoid prejudicing possible intercession by this Government in behalf of American proprietary interest in the assembling plants themselves.

(4) Referring to Legation’s despatch No. 1330 of November 17.8

In the event that the Polish authorities should indicate willingness to grant us greater contingent for automobiles fully manufactured in the United States than that allotted to France, you should not urge too strongly that the United States be granted contingent for toilet articles equal to that of France, in view of Department’s attitude respecting allotment of contingents as stated in fifth paragraph of telegram 32, August 20.

Kellogg
  1. Not printed.