740.00112 European War 1939/5222
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Charles W. Lewis, Jr. of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs
| Participants: | Mr. Guérin48 and Mr. Marchal,49 French Embassy |
| Mr. Lewis |
Mr. Guérin stated that because of the suspension of the Treasury licenses in November, when trade with French North Africa under the economic program was suspended, much concern and inconvenience had been caused to American firms holding contracts for goods for shipment to North Africa, and he added that because of the uncertainty which then arose many of the firms have now expressed their disinterest in further transactions with that area. This, Mr. Guérin stated, had increased very considerably the difficulties of the French North African authorities in obtaining supplies in this country.
With a view to overcoming this problem and making it certain to American suppliers that in the event of a further suspension of trade under the economic program they would receive payment for goods contracted for, Mr. Guérin suggested that it seemed desirable that the Treasury licenses be not subject to revocation, or at least not subject to revocation without adequate notice. He pointed out that trade with French North Africa could be effectively suspended through the revocation of export licenses, the revocation of navicerts, or by the refusal by the American authorities to permit the sailing from this country of the French ships engaged in the trade, and that therefore there seemed to be no need, in the protection of [Page 241] American interests should a change in the North African situation warrant a suspension of the trade, to suspend the Treasury licenses. If there could be some assurance, he said, that the latter would not occur he felt that their purchasing plans could be more effectively executed, while no injury could be done to this country by the continuance in force of the Treasury licenses in view of the means outlined above available to this Government to control the flow of goods to French North Africa.
Both Mr. Guérin and Mr. Marchal expressed the earnest hope that the Department would give sympathetic consideration to this suggestion.