711.90H/37: Telegram
The Chargé in France ( Marriner ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 7—2:10 p.m.]
863. Reference Embassy’s telegram No. 548, June 29, 11 a.m., and the Department’s reply 263, July 3, 6 p.m.,12 concerning the proposed trade agreement between Afghanistan and the United States.
[Page 562]The Afghan Minister has just informed me by note that his Government is prepared to accept as phraseology for article IV of the agreement, the wording of the article on the most-favored-nation clause as contained on page 12 of the general provisions for inclusion in trade agreements forwarded with the Department’s circular instruction diplomatic serial No. 2572 of June 6, 1935,13 with the following exception: the Afghan Government wishes the phrase “immediately and unconditionally” struck out.
With that sole exception the agreement as it now stands is satisfactory to Afghanistan and the Afghan Minister in Paris is prepared to sign texts in English and French, the idea of a Persian text having been definitely abandoned.
May I have the Department’s reaction to the Afghan alteration on article IV as above stated?