851.4061/77: Telegram

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

72. Your 74, March 15, noon. There is no film legislation of the kind referred to before either the Chamber or the Senate. Any film regulations of this nature would as [at] most only require a decree. As Department will recall, the Administrative Regime of Film Exploitation and Control was only instituted by decree, see despatch No. 8356, February 20.55

The article quoted in Department’s instruction is article 7 of what purports to be “Regulations Established by the Film Control Commissioner.” It is still possible that they represent the wishes of the French film interests rather than regulations whose promulgation has been definitely decided upon by the government.

On March 10th the commercial attaché took Lowry to see Herriot56 and the latter stated specifically that although strong pressure had been brought to bear upon him he had opposed the adoption of regulations providing for a film quota.

Under these circumstances I feel clear that no formal protest is justifiable. It would not seem advisable to assume that Herriot is going to take action completely inconsistent with his said statement and I consequently believe that informal action is likewise inopportune at this juncture.

Herrick
  1. Not printed.
  2. Edouard Herriot, French Minister of Public Instruction and the Fine Arts.