740.00112 European War 1939/2897

The Department of State to the British Embassy

Memorandum

The memorandum dated February 7, 1941, in regard to British policy in Morocco, which was left at the Department of State has been read with great interest. It is gratifying to learn that the British Government is ready to support American policy with respect to the establishment of economic relationships with French territories in North Africa.

There appears, however, to be some misunderstanding on the part of the British Embassy concerning American policy in French North Africa and the manner in which that policy has developed. In this connection it will be recalled that on December 18, 1940,76 officials of the Department of State consulted with representatives of the British Embassy and requested them to ascertain the nature of the British Government’s policy in regard to economic aid to the French territories in North Africa. No reply was received to this request, which was renewed early in January, 1941. On both of these occasions, and even prior to December 18 in informal discussions between officials of the Department of State and representatives of the British Embassy, an attempt had been made to explain the manner in which American policy toward economic relationships with North Africa was progressing. It was not until January 28 that a preliminary report was received from the British Embassy,76a and this report was amplified in the British memorandum of February 7, 1941. Meanwhile information was received indirectly of a proposed triangular agreement between [Page 258] Great Britain, Spain and French Morocco involving the exchange of certain commodities.

It appears clear, therefore, that the Department of State over a period of several weeks endeavored to explain to the British Embassy the development of American policy in regard to French North Africa but that during that same period little if any information was obtainable as to what policy the British Government was following in regard to that territory. It is, therefore, perhaps justifiable to conclude that the statement made in the memorandum of the British Embassy dated February 7, 1941, to the effect that American authorities had made approaches to the Moroccan authorities “without previous consultation” with the British Government, is inaccurate.

It is desired to point out that no definite arrangements have yet been made by the United States Government in regard to economic assistance to French North Africa. It is, however, the considered opinion of the Department of State that it is urgently necessary to resume trade relations on a restricted basis with French North Africa if there is to be prevented an economic break-down in that area which may have far-reaching and perhaps disastrous consequences. It has therefore been decided to authorize at once the unblocking of the necessary funds to permit the shipment of a tanker of petroleum products to Casablanca. This is the first step in a program which this Government proposes to pursue with a view to furnishing minimum and urgently needed supplies to French North Africa.

  1. See memorandum by Mr. Villard, December 18, 1940, Foreign Relations, 1940, vol. ii, p. 632.
  2. Memorandum from the British Embassy, January 24, p. 242.