681.006/66: Telegram
The Consul General at Casablanca (Goold) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 13—8:48 a.m.]
4. My number 1, September 9, 6 p.m.65 Following from Childs.66
“The economic measures envisaged by Marchal67 have now been introduced.
A decree of September 9th prohibits all importations into French Morocco with the exception of gold. Exceptions may be accorded by Director General of Communications in the case of solid mineral fuel and petroleum products and by jurisdiction over economic affairs in regard to other products. Article 1 of the regulations accompanying the decree provides that goods shipped before September 9 may be admitted under conditions prevailing previously. Article 3 provides that import permits shall be valid for 4 months. Article 4 of the regulations provides that provisionally goods from France and Algeria shall be admitted without special license.
In a conversation with Marchal yesterday before texts of the legislation were available he stated that permits will be granted subject to the following conditions: essential character of the product; the availability of exchange and of transport. He added that the Protectorate authorities plan to apply the import permits through the medium of trade syndicates now existing or to be established.
A decree of September 11th introduced exchange control similar to that introduced in France.
I observed in my talk that Department would no doubt desire to make full reservations of its treaty rights as affected by the new legislation. He accepted this as a matter of course and said that the legislation would be administered as liberally as possible.
As it is possible the legislation may not be submitted to the Diplomatic Agent and Consul General for authority to make it applicable to American nationals, it is suggested that the Diplomatic Agent and Consul General be authorized to make full reservations of the United States Government’s treaty rights in the premises particularly in view of article 4 of the regulations mentioned above. Blake has been informed of the foregoing and concurs.”