Office of the Historian

740.0011 European War 1939/3770a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the First Secretary of Embassy in France (Matthews), at Tours

Washington, June 13, 1940—1 p.m.

1. From the President. If Ambassador Biddle1 is available ask him to communicate immediately to Prime Minister Reynaud the following message from the President.1a If Ambassador Biddle is not available please deliver the message urgently yourself.

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“Your message of June 10 has moved me very deeply. As I have already stated to you and to Mr. Churchill, this Government is doing everything in its power to make available to the Allied Governments the material they so urgently require, and our efforts to do still more are being redoubled. This is so because of our faith in and our support of the ideals for which the Allies are fighting.

The magnificent resistance of the French and British armies has profoundly impressed the American people.

I am personally particularly impressed by your declaration that France will continue to fight on behalf of democracy even if it means slow withdrawal, even to North Africa and the Atlantic. It is most important to remember that the French and British fleets continue mastery of the Atlantic and other oceans; also to remember that vital materials from the outside world are necessary to maintain all armies.

I am also greatly heartened by what Prime Minister Churchill said a few days ago about the continued resistance of the British Empire and that determination would seem to apply equally to the great French Empire all over the world. Naval power in world affairs still carries the lessons of history, as Admiral Darlan well knows.”

When this message is delivered it must be made entirely clear that the message is personal and private and not for publication.

Hull
  1. Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr., Deputy Ambassador in France.↩
  2. This message was quoted to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom in Department’s telegram No. 1179, June 13, 1 p.m., with instructions to communicate it as quickly as possible to Prime Minister Churchill (740.0011 European War 1939/3775a).↩