681.003/216
The Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Tangier ( Blake ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 20.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to the Department herewith an English translation of a dahir dated January 2, 1936,12 which purports to regulate the importation of, and trade in, carpets and rugs in the French Zone of Morocco, and I also enclose a copy of a note12 addressed to the French Resident General, by this Diplomatic Agency, on the subject.
I do not doubt that the Department will concur in my view that we should cooperate, as far as possible, with the Protectorate Government, in all proper measures to defend Moorish native industries from the effects of unfair competition. It was therefore only after the most careful consideration that I have deemed it impossible to avoid the formulation of the reservations contained in my note above mentioned, in regard to the violation, by certain provisions of the dahir, of a basic principle of the Act of Algeciras, namely, “economic liberty without any inequality.” In these conditions, I anticipate that the Department may desire to instruct me to confirm, on its behalf, the reservations which I have made.
My colleagues of Holland and of Belgium inform me that their governments have filed, with the Protectorate Government, protests on similar grounds, against the dahir.
The American Consul at Casablanca reports that his British colleague has forwarded to his Government, with his endorsement, the objections of the British Chamber of Commerce at Casablanca. Aside from the treaty violations above referred to, these objections point out that the definition of the prohibited articles is so vague as to leave ample scope for arbitrary interpretation and action by the Protectorate authorities. It is also suggested that Moroccan carpet makers, by imitating, themselves, the designs of imported machine-made carpets, which have long been popular among the well-to-do natives of Morocco, would be able to bring under the ban of the dahir an imported carpet trade of both normal character and long standing.
Respectfully yours,