881.00/9–145: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 2—4 p.m.]
5279. From Villard. Final Act of the Tangier Conference in the French, English and Russian languages was signed yesterday afternoon by chiefs of four delegations. Chiefs of British and French delegations signed Anglo-French Agreement copy of which was annexed to Final Act.
Both first and second declarations (Department’s telegram August 3082) were incorporated in Final Act at end of article 9 thus avoiding need of separate signatures. Soviet declaration is preceded by words “the conference took note of the following declaration made by the Soviet delegation”.
There follows the full text of the tripartite declaration:
“The Conference also took note of the following declaration made by the American, British and French delegations:
- 1.
- The American, British and French delegations consider that the participation of Spain in the provisional administration of Tangier does not imply in any sense a departure from the Potsdam Declaration of 2nd August 1945 but represents in the present circumstances the sole practicable means of taking into account the interests of the Spanish nation and people in the settlement of the Tangier question.
- 2.
- While considering that the Conference of the powers signatory to the Act of Algeciras should not be held without Spain the three delegations do not think it desirable that Spain should be invited to the Conference as long as the present government in Spain continues in power; they suggest that at the appropriate moment the French Government should consult on the question of the Conference with the US, British and Soviet Governments,”
Signed originals of Final Act being sent to Department by pouch.83
Sent Department 5279, repeated Tangier 54, Madrid 338, London 641, Moscow 309. [Villard.]