851.731/123: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Bullitt)

909. Substance of your 1786, September 5, 3 p.m., was transmitted to Western Union and Commercial Cable, whose replies indicate contradictory censorship rulings by French authorities. On September 9 Western Union general manager in France learned from the Commission de Controle Télégraphique Internationale that the use of the codes specified in your telegram under reference had not been definitely authorized and further that the admissibility of code was being considered by the Supreme Army Council. Therefore, his previous message authorizing the use of the codes was cancelled. Western Union adds that at the moment code is prohibited in cablegrams destined to France and French mandated territories unless message is addressed to one of enumerated French banks.

Please discuss matter with appropriate authorities and urge that procedure outlined in your telegram be confirmed and applied uniformly to all American communication companies. In this connection it is noted that you made no reference to radiotelegraph companies. Please specify in your answer to the Department whether rulings apply both to cable and radiotelegraph companies.

Hull