740.00112 European War 1939/4698: Telegram

The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the Secretary of State

94. From Murphy. Your 29, January 31, 4 p.m. Reply to your telegram has been deferred due to my absence in Morocco and Tangier. I discussed last evening with Admiral Fénard, Secretary General for French Africa, the French request for a quota for tractors, agricultural machinery and automobile spare parts with particular [Page 248] reference to the possibility of any such supplies or their equivalent reaching the Axis forces in Libya.

I might suggest that I have always believed that we would be well advised to make at least small shipments of these products for the following reasons:

(1)
We are [sure that?] well-disposed French authorities could then invoke the restrictive clause in the North African accord against exportation of those and similar products; if we do not ship them the clause does not apply.
(2)
There is no evidence of the shipment to Libya of any agricultural machinery nor automotive equipment except the trucks and cars about which frequent reports have been made.
(3)
The only possibility of such supplies or their equivalent reaching the Axis forces in Libya would result from occupation of this territory by Axis forces or a complete change of policy on the part of French North African officials; the latter certainly do not now have any intention of making such shipments.
(4)
We know that German manufacturers are copying American agricultural machinery parts and will supply this market as soon as they are able to do so.

There is not the slightest doubt regarding the need for these supplies. The use of substitute liquid fuels in tractors, automobiles, et cetera, has resulted in the deterioration of much equipment. On the other hand, unless new supplies of liquid fuels are forthcoming, it will be impossible to use much of the present equipment.

I respectfully recommend for these reasons which my recent conversations confirm that we make at least some token shipments of these products if our general policy permits the operation of the North African economic plan. [Murphy.]

Cole