851.6363/10–3145
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to
the Secretary of State
No. 3652
Paris, October 31,
1945.
[Received November 13.]
The Ambassador has the honor to enclose, herewith, a copy of the
memorandum forwarded to His Excellency M. Bidault, Ministère des
Affaires Etrangères, on the subject of the termination of the Petroleum
Supply Agreement. This memorandum was drafted in accordance with the
instructions from the Department sent to the Embassy under cable No.
4919, October 23, 1945.17
[Enclosure]
The American Ambassador (Caffery) to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Bidault)
The United States Ambassador presents his compliments to the Minister
of Foreign Affairs and has the honor to draw His Excellency’s
attention to the following matters:
- 1.
- By memorandum of March 15, 1945,18 the French Government was invited
to participate in a Petroleum Supply Arrangement with the
governments of the United Kingdom and the United States, an
arrangement rendered necessary by the exigencies of
war.
- 2.
- With the termination of hostilities and the consequent
reduction in military requirements, petroleum and petroleum
products have now come into free supply; moreover, it is
understood that it is the intention of the United Maritime
Authority shortly to return to their respective nations the
petroleum tankers belonging to nationals of the member
governments.
- 3.
- In view of the foregoing, the United States Government
believes that the necessity for continuing the limitations
described in the memorandum of March 15, as well as the
arrangements proposed therein for programming and
coordinating supplies and transportation, will cease to
exist after October 31, 1945.
- 4.
- With the end of the war, the agencies of the United States
Government concerned with petroleum matters have reduced the
scope of their operations and, in certain cases, have been
dissolved. Accordingly, procurement through United States
governmental channels of petroleum and petroleum products
will shortly cease.
- 5.
- It is the view of the United States Government that with
the relaxation of war-born controls the most desirable and
efficient means
[Page 783]
of
meeting the petroleum requirements of France and its
territories will be through normal commercial
channels.
- 6.
- It is hoped that the French Government will agree with the
United States Government that the mutual interests would
best be served by the restoration of the principles of
competitive free trade in this important industry.
- 7.
- It is desired to take this occasion to express the
appreciation of the United States Government for the
unfailing cooperation of the French Government under the
terms of the Petroleum Supply Agreement. It is felt that the
effective operation of this Agreement has contributed
materially to the successful termination of the war.
Paris, [undated].
