611.5131/1057
The Department of State to the French Embassy
Aide-Mémoire
The Government of the United States is happy to learn of the active interest of the French Government in going forward immediately with negotiations, the purpose of which will be to reach a satisfactory trade agreement between the two Governments.
The tentative proposals with regard to the scope and nature of the suggested negotiations, which the French Ambassador was good enough to lay before this Government, are now receiving the earnest attention and consideration of the American Government. It is earnestly hoped that these proposals point the way to a satisfactory basis for the negotiation of a trade agreement; but before agreeing to undertake definite negotiations the Government of the United States feels that it would be desirable to reach a further clarification of the French Government’s suggestion, and to this end it is suggested that informal preliminary conversations be entered into forthwith. In order that these discussions may have their inception in the greatest spirit of mutual cooperation, the Government of the United States is [Page 213] temporarily extending to articles the growth, produce or manufacture of France, the duties to be proclaimed by the President in connection with the trade agreement signed on February 27, 1935, with the Belgo-Luxemburg Economic Union. This extension will be continued for a reasonable period of time, pending the outcome of the above suggested preliminary discussions.