651.116 Radios/29: Telegram

The Chargé in France (Armour) to the Secretary of State

92. Embassy’s 76, January 29, 5 p.m. At the conference referred to in the above-mentioned telegram the Minister of Commerce stated that the quotas on radio sets and parts had been fixed at 70 percent of the importations for the years 1930 and 1931. By this computation the United States would have been entitled to a monthly quota of 210 quintals although it was actually allotted only 166 quintals. This discrepancy has been pointed out to the appropriate French authorities and they have accordingly increased the quota to 210 quintals. The explanation has been given that the quotas had been calculated before the complete figures for 1931 were known and the heavy importations from the United States in December 1931 were not taken into account. Due publicity has been given here to the [Page 201] increase. While this action increases our monthly quota by 26 percent the Embassy is hopeful of a still larger quota for the second quarter of the year. As the importations during this year considerably exceed the new quota for the first 3 months the order suspending importations from the United States until further notice remains unchanged.

Please inform Ambassador Edge5 of the contents of this telegram.

Armour
  1. The Ambassador had left Paris on February 3 for the United States; he returned on February 23.