681.003/103: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 21—3:30 p.m.]
633. In view of holiday closing tomorrow I have outlined today to British Foreign Office substance of the Department’s 435 December 20, 8 p.m. They understand that upon receipt of a copy of Department’s instruction to Paris, Embassy will furnish orally the substance of Department’s views in greater detail.
The attitude of the Foreign Office officials concerned appears to be substantially as follows:
- 1.
- While it may be argued that there is some substance to the point of view of the United States, the legal advisers of the Foreign Office are of the opinion that it rests upon very flimsy and questionable grounds.
- 2.
- The other signatories to the international treaties concerning Morocco are free to negotiate with the French Government for similar quota arrangements. They might also carry the case to The Hague which the French according to the British Foreign Office would not desire and would therefore probably be willing to come to an agreement about quotas.
- 3.
- If the case were carried to The Hague and lost, the French Government would then be in a very strong position vis-à-vis the other signatory powers and could do pretty much as she pleased with quota arrangements in Morocco.
The Netherlands Minister who had also made representations to Foreign Office called at the Embassy this afternoon and indicated that the views of his Government are identical with those expressed by the Department.