740.00119 European War 1939/361: Telegram
The Deputy Ambassador in France (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:30 p.m.]
27. I have just seen Marshal Pétain following this morning’s Cabinet meeting. The German reply to the request for the armistice terms was received by the French Government at 6:30 this morning. The reply stated that the French Government should name plenipotentiaries to discuss the terms; the time and place of meeting with German representatives would be communicated later. The Government this morning decided to name French plenipotentiaries immediately but Pétain told me that if the Germans did not approve the names others would have to be appointed.
Pétain who was calm, though obviously weary, assured me of the desire of his Government “to cooperate in every way with us”; “the friendship of the United States” he said, “is one of the few assets left to France”.
His Chef de Cabinet told me that the Government has the impression that the Germans are pushing toward Nantes and pressing down in the Lyon region but are in no hurry to press Bordeaux. The Government interpreted this as an indication of the German desire to give it “a certain amount of independence and breathing space”.
Yesterday the French Government, as you know, declared all towns of over 20,000 inhabitants “open cities”.