Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume IV

Paris Embassy Files: Lot 55F–139 Box 2, File 631

The French Chargé ( Lacoste ) to the Secretary of State ⁸⁹

[Translation]

Washington , November 8, 1945.

Mr. Secretary of State: With reference to our recent conversations relative to Article VII of the Master Lend-Lease Agreement entered into between the Government of the United States and the Provisional Government of the French Republic and signed on February 28, 1945, I have the honor to make the following statement to you in the name of my Government:

(1) With a view to ensuring greater production, exchange and consumption of products and the full employment of labor, the Government of the United States and the Provisional Government of the French Republic undertake by the terms of the present declaration to open negotiations in the very near future with a view to reaching an agreement between themselves and with the countries which are of a like disposition in regard to the mutually advantageous measures which would lower customs tariffs and other barriers to international trade and would eliminate all discriminatory treatment in international trade, payments and investments.

(2) While awaiting the outcome of the negotiations contemplated in the preceding paragraph, the Government of the United States and the Provisional Government of the French Republic declare that their policy consists in avoiding the adoption of new measures on a long-term basis pertaining to international trade, payments and foreign investments which would be contrary to the objective of the negotiations in question, account being taken of the application of the provisions of the agreement on international monetary funds drawn up at the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, held in Bretton Woods from July 1 to July 22.⁹⁰

(3) The two Governments will not fail to consult each other whenever necessary regarding all measures to be applied which would come within the field defined by the preceding paragraph.

Please accept (etc.)

Francis Lacoste

89. Copies of note and translation transmitted to Paris as enclosures to instruction 1658, December 6, 1945 (not printed).
90. For documentation relating to the Conference, see Foreign Relations, 1944, vol. ii, pp. 106 ff. For text of Articles of Agreement of the International Fund, formulated at the Conference in July and signed at Washington December 27, 1945. see Department of State, Treaties and Other International Acts Series No. 1501.