681.003/195: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Straus) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:01 p.m.]
599. Reference Department’s instruction No. 908 of June 12,87 and my despatches numbers 1964 and 2000 of June 21 and July 8, 1935. A note dated July 15, 1935,87 has been received from Ministry for Foreign Affairs referring to its note of May 6 concerning the proposed economic reforms in Morocco which it points out would neither extinguish the principle of economic equality nor that of the open door. It asks if the American Government, considering the reform from a practical rather than juridical angle, is now disposed to accept it in principle.
In view of this second note it would seem difficult longer to defer a response. In view of the circumstance that no treaty power has apparently yet definitely rejected the proposed reform and in view of the pending commercial treaty negotiations the Department might perhaps wish to reply in as cordial a spirit as possible to the effect that while we still feel unable to accept the present project we shall not decline to give appropriate consideration to such alternative proposal as may be made in keeping with full economic equality.