Office of the Historian

740.0011 European War 1939/34877/10: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy)

Washington, June 13, 1940—10 p.m.

1195. Your 1643, June 14, 1 a.m.2a Personal from the President. My message to Reynaud not to be published in any circumstances. It was in no sense intended to commit and does not commit this Government to the slightest military activities in support of the Allies. This plan was carefully avoided in drafting the message to Reynaud. There is of course no authority except in Congress to make any commitment of this nature. The French fleet and its disposition for future use was the matter primarily in mind in sending the message.

If there is any possibility of misunderstanding please insist that Churchill at once convey this statement to the appropriate French officials. [Roosevelt.]

Hull
  1. Supra; the first two sections of this telegram were received on June 13 at 9 p.m. and 9:20 p.m., respectively, Washington time.↩