740.0011 European War 1939/11872: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul at Leopoldville (Mallon)
Your telegrams of June 9, 10 a.m., and June 10, noon. In practical result, the question of military supplies for both the Free French Colonies and the Belgian Congo is treated by our Government as part of the problem of aid to Great Britain to be delivered under the terms of the Lend-Lease Act.47 The technical status of these two areas is, however, somewhat different as it concerns procedure. Aid to the Free French Colonies is handled from the inception as an integral part of aid to the British and is therefore wholly indirect. On the other hand, aid to Belgian Congo is handled through direct requests initiated by the authorized representatives of the Belgian Government. However, under the system for coordination of inter-Allied purchasing which has been set up, these Belgian requests are referred to the British Supply Council here for endorsement; so that the practical outcome is about the same in either case.
In view of these facts, you should, in the case of Free French Africa, suggest to the appropriate authorities that in the future they should refer such requests to the British. In the case of Belgian Congo, however, such requests can be initiated by the Belgians themselves through their own representatives in this country.
Any useful information which you may wish to convey concerning the needs of either area will of course be welcomed by this Department and, whenever expedient, will be brought to the attention of the proper authorities.
- Approved March 11, 1941; 55 Stat. 31.↩