851.01/63
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Ambassador of Great Britain called at his request. He stated that although not instructed by his Government, he expected soon to be instructed to ascertain the attitude of this Government towards the Pétain Government at Bordeaux. I said to him that we are today announcing that Ambassador Biddle was specially and temporarily designated to represent this Government with the French Government while it was absent from Paris on account of military dangers and return to his post with the Polish Government, now located in London, by making his way gradually through Spain, accordingly as he might be able to ascertain the safest and most desirable means of transportation. I added that this must not be made public until we make it public. I then said that Ambassador Bullitt’s services are over, during German occupation or military control of France, and that while not officially decided, we would expect him to return without any plan or purpose to function further with the French Government located in Bordeaux or Paris during German occupation as stated. I said this was entirely confidential for the present.