Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, General, Volume I

751.61/322: Telegram

The Chargé in France (Murphy) to the Secretary of State

Paris, March 19, 1940—3 p.m.
[Received March 19—10:38 a.m.]

360. Hoppenot⁷⁷ confirms to me the information contained in Steinhardt’s telegram to the Department 305, March 18, 6 p.m.,⁷⁸ adding that Souritz’s telegram to Molotov⁷⁹ was dispatched from Paris on March 15 en clair in the French language. Hoppenot said that the telegram contained language intentionally provocative and insulting regarding both France and England. It congratulated Molotov over the peace with Finland and expressed Souritz’s pleasure over the allied failure to “create another theater of war” in Finland branding France and England as instigators of the present war with Germany. The language employed was “eighty teur forty million de guerre”.⁸⁰

Hoppenot said that London was consulted immediately and Cadogan⁸¹ said that Maisky⁸² had not sent a similar message but if he did the British Government would certainly ask for his recall.

The French Government accordingly instructed Payart⁸³ on March 16 to inform the Soviet Government that because of Souritz’s personal provocative and insulting attitude his continued presence in France could serve no useful purpose, that he was persona non grata and should be recalled.

Hoppenot added that if the Soviet Government failed to act, Souritz would be asked to leave the country and would be escorted to the frontier.

Hoppenot said that he has no information regarding the purpose which Souritz may have hoped to achieve by his action. Hoppenot is inclined to think that it is personal with Souritz who may have hoped to impress certain French labor elements and that it is not part of a concerted plan under Moscow’s direction. The Foreign Office does not consider that the incident has an important effect on Franco-Soviet relations. He said that the French Government has no thought of severing relations with the Soviet Union.

Repeated to Moscow.

Murphy

77. Henri Étienne Hoppenot, member of the French Foreign Office (Under Director for European Affairs).
78. Not printed.
79. Vyacheslaw Mikhailovich Molotov, Peopled Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.
80. This passage is obviously garbled.
81. Sir Alexander Cadogan, British Permanent Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
82. Ivan Mikhailovich Maisky, Ambassador of the Soviet Union in Great Britain.
83. Jean Payart, French Charge in the Soviet Union.