740.00112 European War 1939/5852: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Cole) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6 p.m.]
419. From Murphy. Reference your June 11 regarding resumption of shipments to North Africa. Admiral Fénard invites attention to request made by French Embassy to obtain authorization for the shipment on steamers Ile de Noirmoutier and Ile d’Ouessant of sufficient fuel oil to enable those vessels to proceed from Casablanca to Algiers for the delivery of American products as well as for shipment from Algeria and Tunisia of cork and other products destined for the United States.
I recommend that sympathetic consideration be given to this request. There is a distinct propaganda value attaching to the arrival of these ships in Algiers from the United States which in our opinion would be worth far more than any formal propaganda we might undertake. This arrangement also would facilitate the shipment of products desired by the United States from this area. Please comment. [Murphy.]