Office of the Historian

740.0011 European War 1939/36918/14: Telegram

The Deputy Ambassador in France (Biddle) to the Secretary of State

(Paris) Bordeaux, June 16, 1940—1 a.m.
[Received 5:40 a.m.]

4. For the President and Secretary. The Cabinet unanimously decided to ask for the terms of an armistice. They have asked the British in view of the agreement between the two Allies for their concurrence in this move. They expect to have the British answer tomorrow and this has just been confirmed to me by my British colleague.

Reynaud to whom I delivered your message at 7 and whom I saw again at midnight explained that only by such a move could he show the French people who have been kept in utter ignorance of the real gravity of the military situation the severity of German terms and justify a flight of the Government “to Africa or England.” (“I only hope they won’t be too moderate” he said.)

I feel, and the British, I find, concur, that the dangers of this move and the shock to the morale of both the Army and the people will far outweigh the political advantages. I believe furthermore that differences within the Government as to future policy may well endanger such plans as they may have for removal elsewhere. While Mandel7 and Campinchi8 favor continuance of the fight Pétain and Weygand (who incredible as it may seem appear to feel that a real “negotiated” peace is possible) urge surrender.

I have emphasized throughout my conversations with all the members of the Government with whom I have talked the vital importance of maintaining the freedom of the French fleet.9 I am relieved to say that tonight I learn that Reynaud obtained, after a real battle in [Page 259] which he threatened to resign, the approval of his Government not to surrender the fleet at any cost. Of this he, Mandel, and Campinchi all assured me tonight.

I of course impressed upon them that to this end the maintenance of a free and untrammeled Government was essential; that without continuance of such a Government the American people might find their continuance of the material aid being rendered the Allies a contribution to democracy which was justified neither by ideal nor utility. This I said was clearly and pointedly brought out in your message of this afternoon.

Biddle
  1. Georges Mandel, French Minister of Interior; succeeded by Marquet on June 16, 1940.↩
  2. Cesar Campinchi, French Minister of Marine.↩
  3. For correspondence regarding concern of the United States over disposition of the French fleet, see Vol. ii, pp. 452 ff.↩