PARIS, March 22.—Henri Cézenne, Secretary General of the permanent bureau of the Association of International Automobile Constructors, to which the American motor industry belongs, said today that he would not permit the proposed European motorcar cartel to be discussed at the May meeting of the organization, thus placing another difficulty in the way of the movement against the invasion of American automobiles on the Old World markets.

Unless the American delegates consent to an open discussion of the question, M. Cézanne said, the issue could not be placed on the agenda of the meeting.

“The bureau is a permanent mutual body in which Americans have an equal voice with all other members,” M. Cézanne explained. “No member has the right to introduce a proposition which is opposed to the interests of a fellow-member. Should the American members agree to discuss the issue, then I will allow the matter to come up, but only to the extent to which the Americans care to go.”

The existence of the movement against the successful exploitation of European markets by American cars was disclosed in recent dispatches to The New York Times. Since then the whole issue has come to the surface, provoking long articles and much discussion in European and American trade papers.

The Italian automobile makers, who initiated the project, appear to be undiscouraged by the failure to obtain the backing of Citroën and other mass productionists. Now that the question is out in the open, the European car makers expect that the Americans will come prepared squarely to meet the challenge.

Open markets, no discrimination and no special privileges is the American position. The Europeans would place American cars on a quota basis, limiting them each year to a certain number to be reached by a friendly agreement.

Having sold 100,000 cars in Europe last year, and with expectations that the total will reach 150,000 during 1928, the Americans will oppose the cartel with all the legitimate means at their disposal.