611.51G31/6
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Culbertson)
Mr. Alphand10 called this morning by appointment made at his request. He stated that he wished to discuss with me informally a matter which would be taken up with the Department by the French Ambassador11 with regard to which a note would be left with the Department. He stated that by a French decree of last October the Indochinese Government had been given liberty of action in respect of its tariff, and that Indochina now has an independent tariff regime. Under this order the Indochinese Government was given the power to negotiate commercial arrangements between Indochina and other Governments. The independent tariff regime in Indochina also applies to commerce between itself and France; an agreement was entered into between the Vichy Government and the Indochinese colonial authorities by which commerce between the two areas was regulated. Preferential treatment in respect of tariffs and quotas was provided for both in France and in Indochina.
There is now in Tokyo a Franco-Indochina commission which is negotiating with the Japanese Government for a new commercial [Page 6] arrangement between Japan and Indochina. The note which the French Ambassador will leave with the Department will make the proposal that commercial negotiations between the United States and Indochina be undertaken. Mr. Alphand stated that if we so desired his Government would make available to us the terms of the agreement between France and Indochina, and would keep us currently informed of the nature of the negotiations going on in Tokyo.
I replied that upon receipt of the Ambassador’s note study of course would be given to the proposal, and that pending a decision on the general question there would probably be no call at this time for the French Government to inform us of the nature of the French Indochina agreement or the nature of the discussions now going on in Tokyo.
While I appreciate that this information which Alphand offered to give is something we want, his oral offer was so presented as to make it appear that acceptance would imply the giving of favorable consideration to the proposal for trade agreement discussions between Indochina and the United States. The possibility of such an arrangement being reached with Indochina seemed so remote to me that I did not wish to accept an offer with strings attached to it. I will, however, endeavor to get this information from Alphand at some time in the near future.