651.116/303: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Edge) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received April 20—5:08 p.m.]
241. M. Tardieu sent to the Embassy late yesterday afternoon a letter in defense of the French quota policy (see my telegram 242, April 20, 8 p.m.16). As indicated in the letter it was in reply to communications from me urging action as well as personal conferences (see my telegram 144, March 3, 4 p.m.17 and my despatch No. 2382 of March 7 [17]). I made an engagement to see the Prime Minister this afternoon and have just returned from the interview.
At the outset M. Tardieu exhibited much concern over information he had received from M. Claudel that the State Department and other Departments in Washington were seriously considering possible reprisals or retaliation based to a great extent upon the resolution passed by the American Chamber of Commerce in France (see my telegram 202, April 2, 3 p.m.). He read me a cable received this morning from Claudel in which the latter stated that he had just had an interview with Mr. Castle leaving with him an explanation of the French quota policy and that he, Claudel, believed that any definite action would be averted at least for the time being. M. Tardieu handed me a 10-page memorandum which he stated was a complete explanation of the French quota policy and French commercial difficulties, which it is impossible to have translated before tomorrow. I assume it is similar to the memorandum left by Mr. Claudel with Mr. Castle although I have no definite advice as to this.
It is clearly evident that the activity in both Washington and Paris on this question has greatly disturbed the Prime Minister and he entered into a lengthy verbal defense of the French policy. I pointed out various inconsistencies if not actual discriminations and he requested me to see him as soon as I had had an opportunity to read and study the memorandum handed me on the subject. He is leaving for Geneva tonight returning Friday and I have made an engagement to meet him at 3:30 Friday afternoon for further discussion.
[Page 215]During the course of the half hour conversation he suggested that representatives of the Embassy should meet representatives [of] the French Government to discuss further the method of making further allotments to the United States. He assured me that in the future no new quota would be promulgated before such conferences or American business interests were consulted.
In the meantime I would strongly recommend that no action be taken by the Department in connection with the quota controversy as from the attitude exhibited by Monsieur Tardieu as briefly outlined in this telegram I hope to make satisfactory progress.
We also discussed the double taxation problem and I am hopeful I can send an encouraging report on this subject very soon.