781.003/272
Memorandum by the Acting Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Alling) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
The French Ambassador telephoned to me today to inquire whether any final decision had been reached whether the proposals recently made to us on the subject of the Moroccan treaty were acceptable. I told the Ambassador that I hoped it would be possible within the next day or two to give him a reply.
As you know, the President has given his approval to our proceeding with negotiations along the lines of the French proposals, i. e. firm guarantees for our trade for a period of at least thirty years in return for our abrogation of our rights under the Act of Algeciras. In the circumstances do you perceive any objection to my informing the Ambassador that the proposals are acceptable as a basis of negotiation?37 I could at the same time, if you consider it desirable, intimate that some question is likely to arise as to the term of years proposed, since some of us feel that thirty years is not adequate.
- Marginal note: “I agree S W[elles]”.↩