841.4061 Motion Pictures/70: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson)
483. Department’s 468, November 29, 7 p.m. Mr. Hays came in to see me today and explained to me again the very serious view which the industry takes with regard to British film proposals now or perhaps soon to be placed before Parliament. Furthermore Mr. Hays told me of the difficulties he is experiencing in keeping the industry from embarking upon a press and film campaign which would bring out the true facts involved in this whole situation. Of course we realize that once a campaign were launched even the industry itself would have no control over the extent to which it might be taken up by opponents to this trade agreement program and others. From the standpoint of treatment at all fair, I am much impressed with the seriousness of the present threat to the American motion picture industry [Page 92] in Great Britain. I have felt it necessary to call in the British Ambassador and again lay this whole situation before him. I have impressed upon him the fact that we are now on the eve of trade agreement negotiations, the importance of which cannot be overemphasized and that such negotiations cannot but be limited if either government should take irrevocable action involving items of trade which are certain to come under discussion during the negotiations. This is the more important when there is involved an item of such outstanding importance as motion pictures.
You will please call at the Foreign Office and state that you have been instructed to inform the British Government orally that I have felt it necessary to speak to the British Ambassador here in the sense indicated above. You should at the same time reiterate the position set forth in the Department’s telegram under reference.