881.00/8–1545: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6 p.m.]
4948. From Villard. My 4889, August 13, 1 p.m. At last session of Tangier Conference we returned to our proposal that if agreement could not be reached on a permanent regime at forthcoming conference to be called in Paris, question should be referred to United Nations Organization. This time we suggested that reference of matter to United Nations Organization should be taken only by a majority decision of powers represented on Committee of Control.
British supported our proposal in this form. However, French delegation again strongly contested suggestion that United Nations [Page 634] Organization would have competence in such a case. They read a long prepared brief on subject, copy of which is being sent Department by airgram60 insisting that problem would lie outside jurisdiction of international organization, that position of Sultan had to be taken into account and that article 54 of the Statute would be applicable in situation. We declined to admit latter contention.
Although we again reserved question, it is our feeling that in view of determined attitude of French, it might be desirable not to press our point too strongly. If we cannot obtain acceptance of some reference to United Nations Organization in another form, it would always be possible to renew proposal in question at conference to determine final status of Tangier.
Sent Department as 4948, paraphrases by pouch to London 598, Madrid 319, Tangier 37, Moscow 277. [Villard.]
- Airgram A–1194, August 18, 1945, from Paris, not printed.↩