611.5131/1–1145

The French Minister for Foreign Affairs (Bidault) to the American Ambassador in France (Caffery)65

[Translation]

Mr. Ambassador: As you know, informal conversations have taken place in Paris between French and American experts with respect to the possibility of adapting the Franco-American agreement of May 6, 193666 to the situation of the French market, disarranged by the war and by four years of enemy occupation.

The rates of duties which were consolidated in that agreement which, in due time, had the happy effect of contributing to the establishment of a more liberal policy between our two countries are specific rates of duty. The French Government must therefore envisage the possibility of an adjustment of certain of these duties, having regard for the serious changes which have occurred in the value of merchandise, and, in a general manner, to proceed to a reform of the French customs tariff.

I desire to emphasize to Your Excellency that in doing this the French Government has in no way the intention of creating obstacles to the development of trade between our two countries. It is in no way prompted by motives which would not be in conformity with the basic spirit of the policy which our two Governments pursue by common [Page 758] accord with a view to promoting international trade, in conformity with the principles which have been publicly stated by the United Nations both in the Atlantic Charter67 and in the provisions of Article VII of the master lend-lease agreement.68

The general circumstances in which France finds herself do not yet permit the Government to specify definitively the new arrangements which we intend to make in tariff matters. When that time comes, our experts will be able to meet with your experts and examine, in the general spirit which animates our two Governments[,] in the field of economic policy, the means of replacing the provisions of the Franco-American agreement of May 6, 1936 with new clauses in harmony with the new French tariff. When these conversations are begun, the French Government will give notice to the Government of the United States under the provisions of Article XII of the Franco-American agreement; that agreement would cease to have effect in case these conversations were not successful.

I would be very obliged if Your Excellency would inform me if this method of negotiation is satisfactory to the Government of the United States.

I take this occasion, etc.

Bidault
  1. Copy transmitted to the Department in despatch 645, January 11, from Paris; received January 19.
  2. For text, see Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 146, or 53 Stat. (pt. 3) 2236; for documentation regarding negotiations, see Foreign Relations, 1936, vol. ii, pp. 85 ff.
  3. Joint statement by President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill on August 14, 1941; for text, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. i, p. 367. This statement was incorporated in the United Nations Declaration, signed January 1, 1942, ibid., 1942, vol. i, p. 25.
  4. Apparently the reference is to the agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom regarding principles applying to mutual aid in prosecution of the war, signed February 23, 1942; for text, see Executive Agreement Series No. 241, or 56 Stat. (pt. 2) 1433.