811.114 St. Pierre-Miquelon/410: Telegram
The Vice Consul at St. Pierre-Miquelon (Gunsaulus) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 10—7:55 a.m.]
Referring to my despatch No. 100 [99], dated October 2nd,44 the following proposed decree was mailed October 3, to the Minister of Colonies for approval or rejection:
“The decree of April 9, 1935, regulating the exportation of alcohol from the Island of St. Pierre-Miquelon is abrogated, except insofar as it concerns the exportation of foreign alcohols now in warehouses at St. Pierre-Miquelon.”
Accompanying this proposed decree was a resolution approved by the Administrative Council amending the local customs laws to prohibit the importation into the territory of all foreign alcohols. The Administrator explained that changes in the local customs laws must be approved by a resolution of the Council of Administration and that such a resolution automatically becomes decree law 3 months after it is published in the Official Journal of the French Republic provided no action is taken on the resolution within the 3-month period. He added that disapproval of or negative action on such resolutions was unusual. He further stated he had requested that action upon the proposed decree and resolution be simultaneous if they are approved by the French Government.
If the above-mentioned resolution and decree are approved it is the understanding of this officer that the importation of all foreign [Page 433] alcohols into the territory would be prohibited; that the provisions of the decree of April 9, 1935, would be enforced only insofar as the exportation of foreign alcohols now in storage are concerned; and that unrestricted exportations of all French alcohols would be permitted in all types of vessels. Despatch and copies of resolution and decree follow by the next mail.45
Bill Customs.