740.0011 European War 1939/355212/14: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 10—12:18 p.m.]
1120. For the President and Secretary. In commenting on the news that Ciano95 had summoned Francois-Poncet,96 Reynaud said without bitterness, “What really distinguished, noble and admirable persons the Italians are to stab us in the back at this moment.”97
He then made arrangements to speak at 8:30 this evening over the radio.
Just before receiving this news Reynaud said that he desired to speak to the President again by telephone.
[Page 245]I replied that I thought it would be impossible for him to talk with the President today since the President would be en route to Charlottesville, Virginia.
He said that in that event he would like to deliver to me before 4 o’clock this afternoon a personal message to be telegraphed to the President.
In my presence he wrote out the message in which he stated that he wanted the President to know that if he and the Government should be obliged to leave Paris it would be only to carry on the war more effectively. The French so long as he should remain in power would fight in front of Paris and behind Paris. They would close themselves in a bastion in Brittany so long as there was a man to fight. They would then fight in the colonies of Africa and they would fight in their colonies in America if necessary at the end.
There is no question whatsoever about Reynaud’s determination and the determination of the French Army to make the end of France as noble as her past. After receiving the news from Rome Reynaud said that it would not change in any way the determination of the French to fight to the bitter end.
In conclusion Reynaud said that he was being pressed on all sides to leave Paris today. He intended to stay to the last possible moment. When that moment would come he did not know. German tanks had succeeded in crossing the Seine at two points. Furthermore German troops had advanced to Fère-en-Tardenois west of Reims.
I cannot express my admiration for the courage with which the French are meeting one of the most tragic situations in history. The British are still keeping at home three-fourths of their pursuit planes.