481.11/127½: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Tangier (Blake)
Your 12, November 15, 4 p.m. The Department is of the opinion that the initiative looking to the blanket settlement of American claims in the French Zone should properly emanate at this juncture from the French authorities. Accordingly no further action in the matter is contemplated pending the receipt of a reply from the French Government to the Department’s last communication on the subject, a copy of which was transmitted to you as an enclosure to its instruction no. 970 of October 26, 1937.
In the event, as would appear probable, the French Government accedes to the expressed desire of this government for a settlement of these claims it is believed that you might, upon being so informed, communicate with the French Protectorate authorities at Rabat in order to arrange the details which may appear appropriate to you. The Department considers that a simple procedure involving agreement on the part of the French authorities at Rabat to make assessment and payment of the damages in each case and the restoration of any property concerned would meet adequately the forms of the settlement.
Authority for your travel and subsistence expenses and those of Dempster and Elkhazen will be given consideration at the appropriate time.