781.003/281: Telegram

The Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Tangier (Blake) to the Secretary of State

Referring to telegram No. 1 from Goold September 9, the following from Childs:

“At suggestion of Marchal I visited Rabat on September 11 and called with him on the French Resident Delegate. The latter repeated the hope expressed by Marchal that the Department might find it possible to conclude capitulation convention. I made no other observation than to state that I would communicate the desire of the French Protectorate authorities to the Department. Upon further consideration I am of the opinion that acceptance of the suggestion made by the French Protectorate authorities would be unwise. I informed Marchal of my belief that the French authorities might count on every endeavor being made by the Department, while safeguarding American interests, to exercise American capitulatory rights in a manner least embarrassing to the French Protectorate authorities in the present emergency.

I have no reason to believe that the French Government proposes to press the Department in the matter and I gained the impression from my conversations with [at?] Rabat that the French Protectorate authorities would probably be satisfied with appropriate assurances along the lines of the above.”

I fully concur in the above. Separate conclusion of capitulation convention fatal error. Department can count on French using the present emergencies to extract from us every possible advantage against vague assurances. Our friendly exercise of capitulatory rights constitutes no embarrassment to the French authorities.

Blake
[Page 670]

[Further negotiations regarding the proposed abolition of the capitulatory rights of the United States in the French Zone of Morocco were held in abeyance during the war.]