851.34/162a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Matthews)
708. Information has reached us from a highly reliable source that the French Government is planning to transfer in the immediate future for reconditioning the warships Jean-Bart and Richelieu from Dakar to a Mediterranean port.
You are requested to obtain at once from the appropriate officials of the French Government a confirmation or denial of this report, pointing out to them that it is of vital interest to this Government that the vessels in question remain in stations where, while protecting France’s interests in its colonial empire, they will not be exposed to control or seizure by powers which might employ them to ends in conflict with the stated interests of the United States of America in the future of the French fleet.
If the French officials with whom you discuss this matter deny the authenticity of the information which has reached us you should express the satisfaction of this Government that it is the intention of the French Government to retain its full liberty 6f action under Article [Page 486] VIII of the Armistice Agreement between Germany and France and maintain out of jeopardy such units of the French fleet as were “released” for the protection of French interests overseas.
If, however, the officials whom you approach in the first instance confirm the report you should immediately convey to the Marshal an expression of the grave concern of this Government that these vessels which now are engaged in a mission with which this Government is wholly sympathetic of supporting French interests in the colonial empire may be removed to points where there will not be adequate safeguards regarding their future use. You should say that your Government is mindful of the community of interests which for more than a century has bound France and the United States and is hopeful, therefore, that if it is necessary for purposes of reconditioning or repairs to move the units in question of the French fleet from their present stations they will avail themselves of those facilities which this Government understands exist at Casablanca and will not transfer the Jean-Bart and Richelieu to places where conceivably they might be subject to control inconsistent not only with the best interest of France but with the ultimate interest of the United States as well.