740.00112 European War 1939/6368: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Portugal (Fish)
Washington
, August
13, 1942—8 p.m.
1102. For Robert Murphy, expected to arrive Lisbon August 14:
- 1.
- The Board of Economic Warfare is working with the Department on a program for the shipment to French North Africa of the commodities described below. These shipments will be made without requiring any concessions on the part of the French Government and without any conditions except that the observers will supervise the distribution of these products under the Economic Accord. This program would consist of the following commodities, all in moderate quantities but to be shipped with regularity: sugar, cotton goods, yarns and thread, tea, matches, tobacco, cigarettes, and small amounts of kerosene for the heating and lighting of native homes.
- 2.
- The Board of Economic Warfare is prepared to approve a substantially larger program than that described in paragraph 1. The enlarged program would provide increased quantities of all the commodities listed in paragraph 1 above, and in addition coffee. The quantities of kerosene would be substantially increased. In the case of the other commodities, the quantities would approximate the present import requirements necessary to maintain the current rationed level of consumption. In company with these commodities would be an extensive Red Cross program including ambulances, medical supplies, soap, and powdered milk. The enlarged program referred to in this paragraph would, however, be approved by the Board of Economic Warfare only on the condition that approximately 30 buying agents should be granted visas for French North Africa and should be allowed to travel freely for the purpose of purchasing strategic materials in that area.
- 3.
- If the enlarged program referred to in paragraph 2 were to prove to be satisfactory in interfering with the flow of French North African strategic and other materials to the Axis, the Board of [Page 355] Economic Warfare would be prepared to approve increasing even the so-called enlarged program.
- 4.
- The Department realizes that you will be in the United States in the near future and that therefore you will be available for full consultation on this subject. Nevertheless, the matter is believed to be of sufficient immediate importance to request your interim opinion as to whether it would be possible to obtain the approval of the French Government to the entry and proposed operations of these buying agents in return for the enlarged program described in paragraph 2 above. Please telegraph triple priority your personal and confidential views on this subject based on your knowledge and experience in French North Africa. Please also telegraph the approximate date of your departure from Lisbon for the United States.
Hull