740.00112 European War 1939/2811
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The British Ambassador came in at his request. I stated that this Government is going forward with its arrangements to send gasoline, sugar and certain other staple commodities to French Africa, in accord with the agreement with General Weygand. The Ambassador said that they had hoped that we would agree with the British that these shipments be made contingent on the turning over to the British of six or eight vessels in the Tangier–Morocco area. I said that I believed we could be of more help to the British in this matter by pursuing our course of conciliation and offering relief of food and goods than we could by making the turning over of the ships a condition precedent. I added that, of course, the British could pursue their own policy in this respect. The Ambassador said nothing more.