740.00112 European War 1939/4996: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 24—12:15 a.m.]
176. From Murphy. I received today the visit of Massenet, special Vichy representative for edible oils, here to participate in conference of North African and Vichy officials including Leroy Beaulieu. Conference designed to develop policy in connection with the shipment of edible oils from French West Africa.
According to Massenet, High Commissioner Boisson at Dakar informs Vichy that it is impossible to ship 130,000 tons of peanuts and palm kernels from the interior district unless 2,000 tons of gasoline or alcohol are provided for the operation of trucks. Vichy insists therefore that Algeria ship 2,000 tons of alcohol for this purpose. Massenet inquires whether we would regard such shipment as violation of North African accord. He also inquires whether Department has taken a decision on Vichy’s notes of March 1498 regarding resumption of operation of North African economic accord about which he understands there was a Departmental conference last Tuesday.
I told him that I had no information from the Department but that I would inquire whether it considers shipment of Algerian alcohol to French West Africa as permissible under the accord.
Massenet also said that the French obligation to deliver to Germany under an accord of August 14, [1941?], edible oil at the rate of 2500 tons a month is not being observed and that Barnaud99 has been authorized to negotiate with the Germans looking to a cancellation of the accord stating French inability to live up to it.
My visitor said that France’s policy on colonial deliveries to Germany hinges on the American North African accord. If the United States performs under it France has the protection of its restriction provisions against exportation to Germany and Italy. Without that protection the French have nothing on which to cushion their resistance to Axis demands.
I pointed out that the stumbling block to the supply of French West Africa to which we were sympathetic is the deliveries of edible oil products to France of which a considerable percentage is going to the Axis. I suggested the opinion that until a formula is found to prevent this supplying the Axis our shipment to French West [Page 275] Africa of vital items such as petroleum products would appear to be out of the question.
May I request the Department’s advice regarding the transfer of Algerian alcohol to French West Africa?
Repeated to Vichy. [Murphy.]