851.4061 Motion Pictures/40: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 19—12:05 p.m.]
161. Department’s telegram No. 86, March 28, 8 p.m. The Embassy has just received a courteous note couched in general terms answering [Page 1008] our note; a copy and translation will go forward to the Department this evening.
Informal conversations between François-Poncet25 and MacLean,26 with two or three representatives of the respective film interests on each side, will start tomorrow and will probably go on for some time. In the course of these discussions it is quite possible that François-Poncet might say, in effect: “Perhaps the contingent system is not, after all, the best way of protecting the French industry; what have you gentlemen to suggest to take its place?” The position of the American representatives would not appear to be strengthened if in such a contingency they should have nothing to propose. A proposition which might be advanced is that of higher customs duties, which, as I recall it, Mr. Hays27 was prepared to put forward last year. His organization may be able to evolve other propositions, or Mr. Hays may feel, of course, that his organization should simply stand pat. I merely advance the foregoing suggestion to put the case as both MacLean and I see it, and for what it is worth in event that Department may wish to consult with Mr. Hays.
In regard to this controversy there has been a considerable amount of bitter and inaccurate comment in the French press, but there is likewise an appreciable amount of sober proofs of fact that the French film industry cannot be developed on basis both sound and permanent by attempts to frustrate the American interests, but rather by the production of better films.