362.115 St 21/128: Telegram
The Ambassador in France ( Wallace ) to the Acting Secretary of State
Paris
,
March 8,
1920—8 p.m.
[Received 8:25 p.m.]
[Received 8:25 p.m.]
712. R–422 for Department and Davis. Reference your number 529, March 13, 8 p.m.
- 1st.
- No protest made by the French Government regarding tankers is before the Reparation Commission except the comments of the French and Italian Governments referred to in our R–342 of February 19th, our R–351 of February 23rd and our R–408 of March 11th.76 These comments came by letters from the French and Italian Governments to the Reparation Commission which were forwarded to the Maritime Service for consideration in connection with the case. They were received and considered by the Maritime Service before our counterproposal given in your 43877 was received and put before that body. These comments stated [the] attitude of the French Government as not being willing for tankers to carry Standard Oil Company products exclusively but as agreeing that all products carried shall be of American origin. The Italian attitude was that products carried should not be exclusively of American origin. Upon consideration by Maritime Service the Italians decided to accept the French attitude and the question was held in abeyance awaiting the arrival of our counterproposal.
- 2d.
- Upon receipt of our counterproposal tankers proposition was considered by Maritime Service on Monday, March 8th, with result as given in our R–408. At that meeting it was suggested that paragraph b might be changed to provide for tankers [“] to be used if so desired by the respective Governments for transporting such cargoes from the United States to France, Belgium, and Italy as are named by those Governments upon these conditions.” No possibility of any change was admitted on our part and the question was adjourned to allow the French and Italian delegates to communicate our counter proposal and to refer to their Governments for instructions. No further comment or proposals have been received.
- 3d.
- Any proposed action or protest with regard to tankers will undoubtedly be made through Reparation Commission. Vessels are being held by and can only be disposed of in accordance with instructions from that body. Rathbone.
Wallace