Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, The American Republics, Volume V

740.00112A European War, 1939/11961f Suppl.: Circular airgram

The Secretary of State to Diplomatic Representatives in the American Republics¹⁸

Washington, July 16, 1942—6 p.m.

Reference Department’s circular telegram of May 25, 1942 relating to Proclaimed List policy with respect to Vichy French firms. The following is a recapitulation and clarification of the Department’s position at the present time on the listing of French firms operating in neutral countries:

1. Firms presently controlled from occupied France should be recommended for the Proclaimed List.

2. In the absence of positive evidence of pro-democratic sympathies, firms controlled from unoccupied France should be recommended for the confidential list but upon any evidence of pro-Axis sympathies or activities should be recommended for the Proclaimed List. Firms controlled from unoccupied France which furnish an undertaking to the British in the form prescribed by M.E.W. for French controlled firms should not be recommended for inclusion or if presently included should be recommended for deletion.

3. Any firm of any nationality supporting Vichy–Axis collaboration policies should be recommended for inclusion in the Proclaimed List.

4. Any firm of any nationality currently remitting funds to or trading with occupied or unoccupied continental France or holding active agencies of firms located in that territory should be recommended for inclusion in the Proclaimed List unless, with respect to unoccupied France, the circumstances are believed to be exceptional and not calculated to aid the Axis. Transactions with French colonies should not result in inclusion in the Proclaimed List unless the trade involved in particular transactions with such colonies appears to our Missions to be designed to aid the Axis or to involve indirect remittances or trade with Vichy France itself.

Please notify consular officers in your area.

Hull

18. Substantially the same message sent to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom as telegram No. 3286, July 16, 1942, 7 p.m., with instructions to repeat those portions which were of general application to Missions in the London Coordination area. The London Coordination area embraced the territory of Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Spain, and Portugal, including all African territories of such countries.