800.6363/5–2445: Telegram
The Ambassador in Frame (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:40 p.m.]
2943. 1. The following is a translation of the response of the French Govt to the memorandum of March 15 submitting the petroleum supply agreement.
[Page 778]2. “The Minister of Foreign Affairs6 begs to acknowledge receipt of the note from the Emb of the US dated Mar 15 with regard to the organization of distribution of oil products during the period which will follow the end of hostilities.
3. It will be undoubtedly necessary, during a certain period of time after the war, to centralize offers and requests for oil products and to rule their distribution according to quantities available and to means of transport.
4. However, if the French Govt is in agreement with these principles, it could not be kept apart from organizations which will be in charge of such operations. In fact, the policy foreseen for distribution of oil products is apt to bind importing nations for a very long time after the end of the war. It seems, therefore, difficult to confirm the absence of France from the Anglo-American Oil Allocating Board which seems to be created as a combined board and which will rule the distribution of oils in the world.
5. In fact, France is one of the main oil products importing countries: its consumption, in 1938, came after that of Russia and Great Brit in the order of European importing nations. During the Hot Springs conference in June 1943,7 the signing nations had acknowledged the importance for the consuming nations to participate to distribution organizations of essential raw materials.
6. Not only is France an important consuming nation but it has a part in production and controls about one million tons raw oil per year; this figure will soon be trebled when exploitation schemes of the [apparent omission] will fully be carried out. Its refining capacity is more than 1,500,000 tons per year and will, after certain repair work has been carried out, reach 3,000,000 tons. Moreover, it disposes of 200,000 tons of ships which it has placed at the disposal of the world pool of tankers, this tonnage will increase as and when damaged ships will be repaired and new ships completed.
7. The French Govt is therefore of opinion that, if France has willingly accepted to submit to the requirements rendered necessary by the war effort, in view of the important amount of its consumption, its dispensabilities in raw oil and refining, and the tonnage of the oil fleet which she is placing at the disposal of the pool, she should not be kept apart from organizations which will, in future, decide of the distribution of a raw product which is of essential importance to its economy and that of its empire.
8. The French Govt therefore requests participation to the Anglo American Allocating Board as well as to the local allocating boards which will ensure distribution of oil products in districts which interest France.
9. It will then agree to submit to suggestions of the memorandum dated March 15, to assemble and transmit to the Govts of the US and Great Brit through their Embassies in Paris, the programs of the various needs of France in oil products and to agree with provisions of pgh seven, regarding the utilization of products, the eventual supply from another source and utilization of oil fleet.”
10. We believe we should reply to the French request for participation in the Anglo American Allocation Committee along the lines set forth in item No. 5 of petroleum report No. 2 from this office March 26, 19458 agreeing, however, that France should be informed of civilian petroleum program for other European nations. We would appreciate very much your suggestions and instructions on our reply.
- Georges Bidault.↩
- United Nations Conference on Food and Agriculture, Hot Springs, Virginia, May 18–June 3, 1943; for documentation concerning this conference, see Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. i, pp. 820 ff.↩
- Not printed.↩