File No. 763.72112/10518a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France ( Sharp)
[Telegram]
Washington,
October 14, 1918, 5 p.m.
5898. For McFadden [from War Trade Board]:
No. 368. Embassy’s 5256, October 1, noon. Your 465. You state Ministry Blockade will hereafter present cases covering Switzerland, Spain, and Morocco to enemy trade license committee in Paris for its consideration and action. Presume they will also present cases covering Holland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark to London conference and cases covering Western Hemisphere to Washington conference.
- 2.
- In your third you state Ministry of Blockade will not submit cases when the transaction is one which was started before undesirable participants were included upon the various black lists or became suspects. We do not understand this reservation. It is within this class that practically all the cases which seem deserving of license fall, and therefore it is this class of cases especially which we desire to have submitted to conference. For instance, a contract has been entered into for the shipment of goods with a person who later appears upon the black list prior to the shipment of the merchandise. The question arises, shall we permit the shipment and remission of [Page 1069] purchase price? Such a case is exactly the sort which we deem should be discussed. Our original plan which is in your hands contained certain exceptions beyond which we do not deem it desirable to go. Grimprel, French representative at Washington, agrees fully with our views and will so cable Blockade.
- 3.
- We reiterate our cable No. 3671 stating that you should arrange that formal conferences be resumed, the various governments to participate to the extent to which they have agreed. The negotiations for full agreement will be continued.
Lansing