103.9169/9–1444: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
7489. Reference Lisbon’s 426, September 7 to you.81 Department is not disposed to provide the French with a copy of the Confidential list for the following reasons:
- 1.
- It probably would result in requests from the French for establishment of procedures for exchanges of information on the listed names such as have been made effective with regard to the published lists. It is not believed that the list is of sufficient importance to warrant a new administrative burden at this stage of the war.
- 2.
- It is possible that the list will be abolished shortly following the termination of hostilities.
- 3.
- Even if the list should be retained, it is likely that the applicable sanctions will be materially reduced. We might find ourselves in an embarrassing situation if the French should enforce the list more rigorously than we.
If the Confidential List is not made available to the French there would seem no necessity for effecting Lisbon’s suggestion for an approach to the French with regard to screening orders through local French missions provided we assume that the French are observing their External List. In this connection reference is made to Department’s 6951, August 30,81 suggesting that the note transmitted in your 653881 be presented to other Allied Governments. An exception should obviously be made in the case of the French and Dutch by reason of their maintaining lists82 virtually identical with the Proclaimed and Statutory Lists. However, if MEW believes an approach to the French along the lines suggested by Lisbon is desirable even though the Confidential and Black Lists are not given to them, Department would favor employing note as stated in your 6538 with appropriate revisions.
Please consult with MEW and report before taking action.