681.006/67
The Secretary of State to the Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Tangier (Blake)
Sir: The Department has received your despatch no. 1496 of October 9, 1939 referring to the protest you were instructed to make against certain legislation introduced by the French Protectorate authorities and reporting additional legislation in violation of American treaty rights, which has been subsequently promulgated in French Morocco.
The Department is of the opinion that it would be desirable for you to make a further formal reservation of American treaty rights as affected by this additional legislation. It is considered that the [Page 693] reservation should extend both to the legislation which the Protectorate authorities have introduced subsequent to that referred to in your note of September 18, 1939, and to that which may be introduced in the future incident to the present exceptional circumstances in French Morocco.
In your note you may remind the French Protectorate authorities that this Government cannot give its approval to the application to American nationals in French Morocco of legislation which might be regarded as direct governmental assistance to one belligerent against the interests of the opposing belligerent. As the Protectorate authorities have been informed, such a result would not be in accord with the neutrality of the United States, which has been proclaimed by the President.
However, it may be stated in your communication that you would be prepared to examine with the Protectorate authorities and report to the Department suggestions designed to avoid special difficulties prejudicial to the interests of the Moroccan community which might result from the failure of this Government to give its approval to legislation enacted as a result of the present exceptional circumstances in Morocco. It should be added that the suggestions would have to be limited, of course, to those measures of cooperation which did not prejudice the neutrality of the United States, the maintenance of American treaty rights in French Morocco or the legitimate activities and interests of American nationals there.
Very truly yours,