681.003/47
The Secretary of State to the Diplomatic Agent and Consul General at Tangier (Blake)
Sir: Reference is made to your despatch No. 823 of March 14, 1933,12a and to previous correspondence on the same subject, relating to the Dahir dated January 30, 1933, instituting compensatory taxation on certain imported merchandise contrary to the provisions of the Act of Algeciras and other Moroccan treaties. In your despatch under reference you point out that some of your colleagues “have expressed the opinion that an effective remedy would be found only by simultaneous collective pressure at the Quai d’Orsay”.
While the Department fully appreciates the extremely serious nature and the possible far reaching consequences of the promulgation of this Dahir, the Department does not feel that it would be politic at this time to make protest in the matter through the American Embassy at Paris. However, the Department fully supports the protest which you made to the French Resident General in your letter of February 8, 1933, a copy of which was enclosed with your despatch No. 813 of February 16, 1933.13 Moreover, the reiterated protest, embodied in your letter to the Resident General, dated March 14, 1933, a copy of which was enclosed with your despatch under reference, likewise enjoys the full support of this Government. If you should consider such a course helpful, you may accordingly advise the French Resident General.
Very truly yours,