611.5331/128
The Assistant Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs (Culbertson) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Sayre)
Mr. Sayre: December 12 last we presented to the Portuguese Minister a list of the considerations and concessions which we would wish to obtain through reciprocal trade discussions.15 We have had no reply to that memorandum.
Since that time the Portuguese have materially increased the shipping discriminations against the United States. As a result of these discriminations, which have not applied to other countries, Portugal has been able to obtain a number of commercial agreements. These agreements in general provide for the protection of the word “port” which is protection which the Portuguese have continuously sought.
I have discussed this question of trade name protection with Mr. Bianchi, and have indicated to him that it would be extremely difficult for the United States to give such protection. He raised the question whether it would be possible to prohibit the importation of wines marked “port” from any foreign country other than Portugal. I told him that this would involve denying national treatment to foreign goods and that I did not think it could be done.
The Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs has indicated to our Minister that the present trade agreement with Portugal seems quite satisfactory, and that Portugal was not particularly anxious to undertake any treaty discussions.
- List not printed. For memorandum of December 13, 1933, by the Assistant Secretary of State, see Foreign Relations, 1933, vol, ii, p. 646.↩