851R.24/91/16
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Thomas C. Wasson of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs
| Participants: | Monsieur de Panafieu, Counselor of French Embassy; |
| Captain de Bourgoing, French Naval Attaché; | |
| Monsieur Paul Guérin, French Embassy; | |
| Mr. Wasson. |
After introducing Captain de Bourgoing, M. de Panafieu inquired whether the French Mission could start purchasing the articles [Page 353] listed in the French Embassy’s letters of July 23 and 24, 1942,16 because it would not be long before the Ile de Ré and the Aldebaran would arrive at New Orleans. M. de Panafieu was informed that the lists of goods which they wished to purchase for export to French North Africa had been referred to the Board of Economic Warfare for clearance and that a reply had just been received from that organization, approving certain commodities and disapproving others. A list of the articles which had been approved was handed to M. de Panafieu.
After scanning the list M. Guérin stated that Mr. Fertig (OWI17) had informed him that the French would have to pay not only for packaging a certain quantity of the sugar and tea but also for having propaganda matter printed on the containers. He said that they had already purchased a considerable quantity of sugar and tea and that it seemed unreasonable to demand that they now pay $25,000 additional to have a portion of this packaged and the containers printed with American propaganda. M. Guérin went on to say that there was no way to include such an item in his accounts, since the sugar in question was already bought. The three officials stated that they would be willing in the future to pay for packaging a part of the sugar and tea but that they thought that the OWI ought to pay for its own propaganda.
I read the list of commodities which had been disapproved. In connection with the 1,500 tons of binder cord, which had been turned down because of supply shortage and because French North Africa esparto grass and palm fiber could be used as a substitute, M. de Panafieu inquired whether we would be willing to sell them the machinery to make binder twine out of the grass and the fiber.
M. Guérin stated that the BEW could not refuse the export of the agricultural machine parts because it was clearly understood that these would be sent to French North Africa on condition that the French shipped at least 200 tons of olive oil to the United States. The Ile de Ré is bringing 218 tons of this commodity and he could not understand why the BEW now declined to permit the export of the agricultural machine parts.
M. de Panafieu expressed the hope that the delays which had been encountered previously in the sailings of the vessels engaged in trade between French North Africa and the United States would be reduced and that the turn-around of these ships would be expedited. I inquired whether it would be possible for a French tanker to bring a cargo of fuel oil from Aruba or Curagao to an east coast port, in order to avoid having the vessels bunker in the West Indies. The [Page 354] Naval Attaché replied that he could not recommend this to Vichy in as much as there was no assurance of regular sailings.
M. de Panafieu requested the Department to use its good offices in order that the vessels might continue to call at North Atlantic ports, to avoid the delays incident to refueling in the West Indies. He said that the present destination, i.e. New Orleans, of the vessels was unsatisfactory because of the long inland freight hauls for both incoming and outgoing cargoes. He was informed that the Department was endeavoring to arrange for the vessels to call at Atlantic ports but that no assurance could be given him in this connection.